Building sustainable models to support maternal health

The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among wealthy nations. In turn, maternal caregivers—including doctors, nurses, doulas, lactation consultants, social workers, and family members who support mothers and infants—face unique challenges and pressures. More than half of maternal health care providers report experiencing burnout. Burnout also affects one in five family caregivers, some of whom care for mothers and infants. 

When our maternal caregivers run on empty, everyone’s well-being suffers. But it doesn’t have to be this way—if we prioritize sustainable funding and partnership models. 

How maternal caregiver burnout affects health outcomes 

Left unaddressed, caregiver burnout leads to depression, fatigue, attrition, and costly turnover for health systems. The losses mean fewer trusted providers in the delivery room, fewer mentors for younger practitioners, and fewer community health workers who understand the cultural and social realities of the communities  they serve. 

When it comes to maternal health, caregiver burnout has direct implications for the well-being of mothers and infants. Burnout increases the chances of missed warning signs during labor and postpartum, which can lead to higher rates of complications and mortality. Burnout among maternal health providers also decreases the quality of emotional support, patient education, and breastfeeding guidance—all essential to positive maternal and infant health outcomes. The ripple effects deepen with racial disparities, as Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. Black infants have the lowest breastfeeding initiation rates compared with other racial groups. 

The need for sustainable, diversified funding for maternal health 

One of the factors behind the widespread burnout among maternal health providers is the lack of sustainable funding. Significant cuts in funding and tight budgets have left nonprofits and community providers with fewer resources. At the same time, almost two in five U.S. counties are maternity care deserts, meaning there is no hospital, birth center, or obstetric provider. It’s clear that these community providers and nonprofits need diversified funding sources and public-private partnerships are integral to filling the gaps in maternal health care. 

The lack of sustainable funding is a three-part problem: Short-term grants, competition for limited dollars, and strained health systems create instability that threatens maternal caregiver support. 

To overcome these issues, some nonprofits are using philanthropic dollars in addition to Medicaid reimbursement for doula services. Others are entering into shared-cost agreements with hospitals or creating membership-based models that generate consistent income. Cross-sector collaborations tap corporate and private investment for health equity. Diversified funding can turn short-term programs into lasting solutions. 

Public-private partnerships to support maternal health nonprofits 

At the GE HealthCare Foundation, we’ve supported nonprofits that sustain caregivers through funding and collaboration, such as: 

• African American Breastfeeding Network (AABN): GE HealthCare Foundation funding has helped AABN strengthen programs that support doulas with mental health sessions, wellness care packages, and meal delivery services. Mixing philanthropic and local partnerships, AABN’s model shows how even modest investments can sustain culturally relevant support. 
• Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA): As a member of MMHLA’s Corporate Council, our foundation has helped expand initiatives like provider education, screening programs, and public awareness campaigns that help normalize and address maternal mental health needs. By aligning corporate resources with nonprofit expertise, MMHLA has demonstrated how strategic partnerships can build sustainable solutions. 
• Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA): With support from the foundation, BMMA has scaled initiatives that directly strengthen the maternal health workforce, such as Black Maternal Health Week and its Training Institute and Incubator Hub. These programs build capacity among Black maternal health providers, expand doula access, and equip community-led organizations to deliver culturally responsive care. 

These partnerships underscore the importance of multi-source funding. They also highlight how corporations, philanthropy, and nonprofits can collaborate to build stronger systems of care for caregivers and the families they serve. 

Collaboration is a key component. Hospitals and clinics partnering with community organizations create networks of support that meet families’ needs, expand doula access, train community health workers, strengthen advocacy, and help dismantle systemic barriers driving disparities. And these partnerships can help ensure caregivers remain supported and, in turn, advance healthier outcomes for mothers, infants, and communities. 

Photo credit: FatCamera/Getty Images