Groundwork Ohio & CareSource Release “Threads of Hope” Report: Centering the Voices of Black Women in Maternal and Infant Health

Columbus, OH – March 18, 2025 – Today, Groundwork Ohio released its highly anticipated Threads of Hope: Community Voices Stitching Together Solutions for Healthier Beginnings, a comprehensive analysis of maternal and infant health in Ohio. The report is the result of an extensive listening process, weaving together the voices of thousands of Ohioans—particularly Black women—who have shared their birth experiences, challenges, and solutions, all with the goal of improving maternal and infant health outcomes for all.

“Families and women are the experts on their own lives and the lives of their children—they have unparalleled insights into the challenges they face and the solutions needed to overcome them”, said Lynanne Gutierrez, Groundwork Ohio President & CEO. “This report is a testament to the fact that the solutions to improve infant and maternal health outcomes that Ohio requires must be informed by the expertise and advocacy power of community members.”

“Reducing infant mortality requires more than data—it demands that we listen to the voices of pregnant women, understand their challenges, and act with urgency to remove barriers to care,” said Deirdra Yocum, Interim President, Ohio Market, CareSource. “Their lived experiences must shape the policies and solutions that drive real change and together we will create healthier communities.”

The report draws from survey data from over 3,000 Ohioans sharing their birth experiences, as well as focused data from the voices of over 100 women and community leaders in Montgomery County. It sheds light on disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes and emphasizes solutions driven by those most impacted. The report builds on Groundwork Ohio’s commitment to family engagement to improve outcomes.

The report was released during a webinar earlier today followed by a discussion with CareSource and Groundwork Ohio, moderated by the Ohio Association of Health Plans. The event brought together experts, community leaders, and policymakers to discuss the report’s findings and, equally as importantly, the engagement process underpinning the report focused on consumer voices to co-create solutions to the maternal and infant health crisis in Ohio.

To read the full Threads of Hope report, visit: https://www.groundworkohio.org/threads-of-hope.

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About Groundwork Ohio

Groundwork Ohio is a nonpartisan public-policy research and advocacy organization that champions high-quality early learning and healthy development strategies from the prenatal period to age 5, that lay a strong foundation for Ohio kids, families, and communities. We advance quality early childhood systems in Ohio by engaging, educating, and mobilizing diverse stakeholders and strategic partners to promote data driven and evidence-based early childhood policies.

About CareSource

CareSource is a nonprofit, nationally recognized managed care organization with over 2 million members. CareSource administers one of the largest Medicaid managed care plans in the U.S. The organization offers health insurance, including Medicaid, Health Insurance Marketplace and Medicare products. As a mission-driven organization, CareSource is transforming health care with innovative programs that address the social determinants of health, health equity, prevention and access to care. For more information, visit us at www.caresource.com, or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.