Many families across Arizona continue to struggle to access adequate support after childbirth. Significant gaps remain in postpartum and maternal mental health services during a period that is crucial for the well-being of both parents and their infants.

To help bridge these gaps, the It Takes a Village initiative by 4th Trimester Arizona is working to expand access to care by training, certifying, and contracting additional community-based doulas. These professionals provide support throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, helping bring essential services directly into local communities.

Backed by funding from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Foundation's Thiru Family Trust Momentum Maker Grant, the program is strengthening Arizona's network of community-based maternal care providers while increasing access to postpartum support services. In 2025, 4th Trimester Arizona received a $100,000 grant aimed at helping doulas complete the training and certification processes required to serve families enrolled in AHCCCS, Arizona's Medicaid program.

So far, the initiative has achieved several milestones:

"The support we've received has enabled the It Takes a Village initiative to evolve from an idea into an operational program by creating the infrastructure community-based doulas need to serve AHCCCS members," said Dr. Jennie Bever, CEO of 4th Trimester Arizona. "The current healthcare system does not provide enough support for mothers. By helping doulas navigate reimbursement and credentialing pathways, we're making trusted, relationship-centered care more accessible."

The initiative arrives at a particularly important time for maternal health in Arizona:

Community-based doulas often act as trusted advocates and support partners throughout pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum months. They help families understand available options, identify potential concerns, and access appropriate healthcare services.

"The strength of community-based doulas lies in the trust they build," Bever added. "Families are often more comfortable discussing concerns with someone who shares or understands their cultural background, language, life experiences, and community environment."

For doulas themselves, the program is creating more sustainable opportunities to provide care to underserved families.

"This incredible initiative has given me a sustainable pathway to continue my work as a community doula," said Brionna Giles, a certified doula and founder of Your Birth Story Birth Services. "I'm excited to extend that support and compassion to the families I serve."

AZ Blue continues to invest in maternal health initiatives across Arizona through its community outreach programs, philanthropic foundation, and Medicaid division, AZ Blue Health Choice.

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The Preeclampsia Foundation has announced a call for Letters of Intent under its Peter Joseph Pappas Research Grants program. This initiative aims to advance scientific discoveries that could eventually eliminate the need for premature delivery as a treatment for severe preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and other pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders. Established in memory of Peter Joseph Pappas, the infant son of preeclampsia survivor Lauren Pappas and her husband Clement, the program plans to distribute multiple research grants in 2025, with total funding of up to $200,000 over two years.

Researchers are encouraged to submit proposals addressing priority gaps identified during a 2020 workshop on preeclampsia jointly organized by the Preeclampsia Foundation and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Relevant topics may include investigating the biological mechanisms and subtypes of preeclampsia, developing more accurate diagnostic or predictive tools, exploring treatments that can prevent, reverse, or stop placental and organ damage associated with the disease, and promoting preconception and inter-conception health to improve pregnancy outcomes.

Preference will be given to projects that utilize or expand resources available through the Preeclampsia Registry™, which includes self-reported information, whole-exome sequencing data, and clinical records. Proposals that generate new datasets or biological samples suitable for inclusion in the Registry are also encouraged. Detailed eligibility requirements and application guidelines are available on the Foundation’s website.

The grant program honors Peter Pappas, who was born at 29 weeks following complications from severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. Since its inception, the fund has supported nearly a dozen research projects focused on areas such as potential treatments, genetic factors, and the role of placental function in the development of preeclampsia.

Reflecting on their motivation, Lauren Pappas shared that the loss of their son after a 29-week delivery caused by preeclampsia inspired the family to establish the Peter Joseph Pappas Fund to help prevent similar tragedies for others.

Clement Pappas noted that continued support from relatives, friends, and the Foundation has enabled meaningful progress toward the long-term objective of eliminating preterm births caused by preeclampsia by the year 2050.

Additional information about the funding opportunity is available online. Letters of Intent must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, August 14, 2026.