A new clinic in East Dallas aims to give pregnant women access to affordable prenatal care as advocates say Texas is in the midst of a maternal health crisis.
Officials on Tuesday celebrated the opening of nonprofit Hope Cottage's new maternal health clinic at Cece's Place, which will provide low-cost services to those expecting a baby.
“Our goal is to provide women with easy access to the services they need to have healthy pregnancies and give their children a strong start in life,” said Stephanie Bohan, CEO of Hope Cottage. It's about creating a deeply collaborative environment.”
Texas ranks 49th in the nation for women's health, according to a study by the Commonwealth Fund. Thirty percent of women do not receive early prenatal care during their first trimester, placing Texas last on this measure.
Services provided at CeCe's Place include pregnancy testing and Medicaid enrollment, as well as prenatal and postnatal care. Meanwhile, Hope Cottage offers parenting education, case management, referrals to community resources, adoption information and counseling during and after pregnancy.
Women at the clinic will be referred to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas for labor and delivery. After birth, HHM Health continues to care for mothers and babies through her CeCe's Place and other sites.
“Our goal is to create a loving and supportive environment where women have easy access to the services they need to have healthy pregnancies and give their children a strong start in life,” said Bohan. Told.
CeCe's Place is operated through a partnership between Hope Cottage and HHM Health, a federally qualified health center and nonprofit organization that provides cost-effective health care services.
Funded by a $2 million gift from the George and Faye Young Foundation, the clinic is named for the Youngs' late daughter, Carol Young Marvin, who they adopted through Hope Cottage.
Hope Cottage focuses on adoption, foster care, education, and child care support. It was founded in 1918 after the Spanish flu and World War I left many infants and young children without parents.
Approximately 90% of maternal deaths in Texas could have been prevented, according to the 2022 Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Commission report, which suggests that medical care during pregnancy could be improved to improve outcomes for mothers and children. It is recommended to increase access to the service.
“So many patients are in vulnerable communities who lack adequate resources and often don't know where to turn,” said Brian Hawkins, CEO of HHM Health. Stated. “We are committed to continuing to step up and be a resource for women in Dallas. By partnering with Hope Cottage, we are able to reach more mothers and help them have safe births. It will be.”
Bohan said the birth rate rose 5.1% in just one year after Texas outlawed abortion in 2021 and the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
“So if we're going to increase births, we're going to continue to increase births, so let's keep women alive,” Bohan said.
Local health data shows that women of color and women in low-income areas who lack access to preventive medicine and healthy foods have higher mortality rates than wealthier women.
“Another major factor that increases mortality among pregnant women is issues of domestic violence, or stressors within the home or unhealthy relationships,” Bohan said.
CeCe's Place is located in the Hope Cottage location at 609 Texas Street in the Wilson neighborhood, adjacent to Deep Ellum and downtown Dallas.
To schedule an appointment for prenatal care at CeCe's Place, call 972-354-8713 or email info@cecesplace.org.
The clinic is open Mondays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with plans to expand based on demand. HHM Health accepts Medicaid and many private health insurance plans.
