Project SOAR: Supporting and Advancing Maternal Health in Rural Communities

Project SOAR addresses the maternal health crisis affecting Black communities in rural areas of Georgia. The initiative was created to empower rural families with resources and support to improve maternal health experiences and outcomes.

Project SOAR aims to end the maternal health crisis in Georgia’s Black communities by:

• Engaging families with prenatal education and care.
• Promoting maternal health through community collaboration.
• Gathering information on factors that impact maternal health.
• Empowering future leaders in maternal health.
• Sharing knowledge to improve maternal health experiences and outcomes.

Why This Matters

Black families face two key challenges surrounding pregnancy and birth: higher maternal death and injury, and discrimination. In Georgia, Black women are 2.3 times more likely to die during pregnancy or postpartum than White women. Ensuring that Black families are safe, healthy, and feel valued surrounding pregnancy and birth is crucial for achieving health equity.