“It’s incredibly rewarding to know the life-changing impact of making preventative, prenatal, and postpartum care accessible and offering health education, resources and tools that Community Care Plan provides.”

Jennifer Harper, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist with Broward HealthPoint who sees patients at the new Maternity Care & Heart Community Resource Center.

For decades, Lauderdale Lakes and nearby cities were a maternity care desert, leaving expectant mothers with limited access to vital prenatal services and contributing to some of the highest maternal health disparities in the County. In response, the Health Foundation awarded a $850,000 grant to establish the Broward Maternal Health Equity Collaborative. Together, collaborative members are addressing the systemic inequities that have long endangered the health of mothers and babies.

This Spring, the Maternity Care and Heart Community Resource Center opened, now serving as a lifeline for expectant mothers in that community. 

The Center provides essential obstetric care, access to Doula services, group prenatal classes, and social service support.

The impact has been immediate and profound.  “For the first time, I feel like I’m not alone,” shared one mother who credits the center’s care with giving her the confidence and resources to navigate her pregnancy.

An affiliate of Broward Health, Broward HealthPoint provides high-quality, affordable healthcare and is the medical safety net for the northern two-thirds of Broward County. Community Care Plan, a health plan owned by Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System, provides services at the center.