BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – BlueCross and BlueShield of Texas (BCBSTX) partnered with a Brazos Valley organization to provide resources to mothers and babies.
On Wednesday, BCBSTX announced they were awarding $2 million in grants to statewide partners to provide localized care to improve maternal health. According to BCBSTX, Texas is ranked 48th for maternal health, so in 2023, they created an initiative called Special Beginnings, which helps pregnant mothers manage their pregnancies.
Dr. Yolanda Lawson works as Executive Medical Director for Maternal and Infant Health at BCBSTX. She explained the importance of the grants and how beneficial they are to local organizations.
“When we developed this, it was with the mind thinking about how we want to help as many people as we can, and that’s why we went through this partnering with so many different types of community-based organizations,” Lawson commented.
This year, BCBSTX is adding Project Unity to its list of partners. Project Unity recently started the Brazos Healthy Communities’ program, which helps mothers and babies get the care that they need, ranging from prenatal to postnatal care.
Jacob Biswell said the organization uses a model called 21 Pathways, which incorporates Community Health Workers who monitor the mothers and their babies to ensure they are receiving food security and other necessities. He said this program has served over 100 mothers and babies, and the grant money is essential in continuing to provide these resources.
“BlueCross BlueShield has partnered with Project Unity in the total amount of $175,000, which will allow us to hire two new community health workers to serve our families better,” Biswell explained.
Biswell said Project Unity serves 10 counties, and he hopes this partnership can help reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.
“It’s a right partnership, it makes sense when we’re specifically working within this maternal health that we partner with one of the largest insurance providers in the state of Texas,” Biswell remarked.
Lawson said Project Unity offers a non-traditional model to deliver care, but she hopes this can set an example on how to expand the initiative.
“Whatever we can do to enhance and expand resources to make sure people are getting what they need – that’s what we wanted to see and that’s what we are seeing,” Lawson commented.
BlueCross and BlueShield of Texas want to continue investing in statewide organizations to ensure all mothers and babies receive the necessary care during their pregnancies.
Copyright 2025 KBTX. All rights reserved.