NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Biden-Harris Administration has announced millions of dollars will be awarded across the country to improve maternal health and reduce the nation's high maternal mortality rate.
The Tennessee Department of Health will receive $10,754,345 of this funding.
According to the department, pregnancy-related deaths have steadily risen over the years in Tennessee from 2017 to 2021, which is the latest year the department has reported data.
More than 130 women died either during pregnancy or within a year after the end of their pregnancy in 2021, and about 70 percent of those deaths were deemed to be preventable.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced it will provide more than $568 million in funding to improve maternal health. More than $440 million of that will go towards expanding home visiting services for eligible families. This will provide nurses, social workers, and trained health workers to work with mothers and families early on in prenatal care and postpartum support.
The CDC has also announced it will invest more than $118 million to better identify and prevent pregnancy-related deaths.
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This is a story I immediately went home and showed my boys - young athletes with big dreams. The Vanderbilt football team's success has stolen the spotlight - what I love about Steve Layman's story is he reveals the individual hardships it took to get there. As Clark Lea says, "we all have scuff marks." This team proves perseverance pays off!
- Carrie Sharp
