Maternal Health

Mothers are dying in Tarrant County. They don’t have to.

Tarrant County’s maternal mortality rate is higher than the national average. Recent research released by the state shows that Black women in Texas are 2.5 times more likely to die from pregnancy- or childbirth-related causes than white women. Nearly 90% of these deaths have some chance of being preventable. Compounding this, parts of South Fort Worth have experienced some of the worst health outcomes and lowest life expectancy in the state.

We’re working to change these outcomes.

Many factors contribute to these issues. Mothers in low-income communities and communities of color may lack access to culturally responsive care. Others may encounter a trust divide with medical providers. When communication and support are missing, risks increase - even when complications are preventable.

Community-Based Doulas

Doulas are one of the most effective tools to improve labor and delivery outcomes by providing education during pregnancy, coaching and support during labor, and hands-on support following birth.

We’ve trained 150 community-based men and women as doulas. These doulas, already rooted in the communities they serve, provide trusted support to local mothers and families. For many, becoming a doula is more than a training. It’s a pathway to purpose and economic opportunity, allowing community members to turn lived experience into a profession while supporting families and strengthening neighborhoods.

Our community doula program currently:

Serves women from early pregnancy to the months following childbirth
Builds trust between the community and healthcare providers
Supports healthier outcomes for the mothers and their babies

Our partners in this work include Trust Her, part of the Child Poverty Action Lab, Paradigm Doulas and Delighted to Doula.

Meet Our Community Doulas

TeamBirth

TeamBirth supports mothers in Tarrant County birthing hospitals. TeamBirth improves maternal outcomes by bringing the entire team into the process, including the mother, her chosen support people (such as partners and doulas) and clinical providers. By strengthening communication and shared decision-making, mothers have a clear voice throughout labor and delivery. This innovative care model was developed by Ariadne Labs, a joint center for health systems and innovation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

As the first to implement TeamBirth in Texas, we’Ve partnering with local hospitals to strengthen maternal care systems. Local hospitals began integrating TeamBirth in January 2025, and the model is now implemented in eight North Texas birthing hospitals, expanding this support for families across the county.

TeamBirth hospitals include:

Baylor All Saints Medical Center
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Grapevine
JPS Health Network
Texas Health Alliance
Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth
Texas Health HEB
Texas Health Southwest Fort Worth

Thank you to the Paul E. Andrews, Jr. Foundation, the Marlene and Spencer Hays Foundation, and the Morris Foundation for supporting UWTC’s maternal health programming.

We are actively fundraising to continue our work and expand it across Tarrant County, and have a $1M matching gift from an anonymous donor to start. Please consider giving today!

Support Maternal Health

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Tarrant County moms supported with UWTC/CPAL doula care

Babies delivered with UWTC/CPAL doula care

North Texas birthing hospitals launched TeamBirth to improve system of care for local moms in 2025