Caring for mothers and children is one hallmark of a healthy community—and a fundamental value shared by Californians. Called to Care seeks to foster strong connections between California’s Catholic-affiliated health providers and community organizations to positively impact the health and well-being of millions of women and children annually.
Overview: Maternal Health and Well-Baby Care in California
Californians can take pride that, through an intensive effort across health care providers and community organizations, our state has driven down overall maternal mortality rates by 65% since 2006—while national rates have risen.
At the same time, however, in our state as well as nationally, there remains a significant disparity in outcomes for Black, Latina and Indigenous women. For Black and Indigenous women in California, maternal mortality rates are three to six times higher than for white women. No Californian woman should be at risk when it comes to bringing her baby into the world.
A Priority Uniting Californians
As an essential part of California’s health care safety net, Catholic-affiliated providers and hospitals reach deeply into their communities and collaborate with local organizations to help bring high-quality, compassionate care to vulnerable and underserved women and children. These providers are addressing maternal health and well-baby care by taking key steps, including:
- Providing High-Quality Care. Standardizing and implementing evidence-based clinical protocols and training to support the health and safety of patients.
- Fostering Healthy Outcomes. Providing culturally competent care for patients and their families throughout the maternity journey; supporting healthy birth outcomes; and providing support for patients and families who endure pregnancy loss.
- Collaborating with the Community. Partnering with local organizations to improve prenatal care by addressing social determinants of health—such as access to nutritious food, transportation and housing.
For more than 165 years, providing maternal and well-baby care has been a core commitment of California’s Catholic health providers.
A higher percentage of Catholic-affiliated hospitals offer maternity care and maintain neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) compared to all other hospitals in California. One of every five babies born in California is delivered at a Catholic-affiliated hospital.
Addressing Disparities in Maternal Health and Advancing Equitable Care
California’s Catholic-affiliated hospitals and community partners have made significant progress in reducing maternal mortality. Since 2017, Providence’s family of organizations has nearly eliminated preventable material deaths statewide. This effort includes not only improving prenatal care but also focusing on the social determinants of health—such as supporting access to adequate, nutritious food and addressing domestic abuse.
Dignity Health has implemented a maternal early warning trigger tool statewide that addresses the four most common causes of maternal death. This protocol has been a central driver of Dignity Health’s reduction of maternal deaths systemwide.
Dedicated to Women’s Health and Support Services for Children and Families
From Eureka and Mt. Shasta in the north; to Chula Vista near the border with Mexico, and another 45+ locations in between, Catholic-affiliated hospitals deliver exceptional care to women of all ages. Highlights of key care sites dedicated to women’s health include:
Providence St. Joseph Hospital of Orange County
This facility has been recognized as a leader in women’s and pediatric health by numerous organizations. Providers guide women through all stages of their health journey, from adolescence, adulthood and maternity, and senior years and menopause, with a dual focus on both physical and emotional health.
Dignity Health’s Mercy Medical Center Redding
The primary provider of maternal care for the Shasta region, Mercy Medical Center Redding includes a pregnancy clinic, a family birth center and a neonatal intensive care unit. For the last three years, the hospital has been named to the Maternity Care Honor Roll by Cal Hospital Compare.
“As a midwife I love being a resource for women in my community. So many of us have questions about our bodies…and feel uncomfortable asking questions or having these conversations. I love that I am able to sit with women and create space to discuss intimate topics.”
Allison Molinski, CNM
Providence Mission Hospital, Mission Viejo