Project ECHO, Empowering Communities for Healthy Outcomes, addresses the rising impact of overdose, now a leading cause of death during pregnancy and the postpartum year in Georgia. The initiative was created to support pregnant and postpartum women—and other birthing people—who use drugs by building community-based programs in partnership with local organizations.

Project ECHO aims to reduce overdose-related maternal deaths by:

• Partnering with community organizations to expand support for pregnant and postpartum women.

• Interviewing participants to understand their health concerns and service needs.

• Identifying factors that influence maternal health among women who use drugs.

• Developing community-driven strategies to reduce overdose risks.

• Sharing knowledge to inform sustainable and scalable maternal health programs.

Why This Matters

Overdose is now a leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in Georgia, with South Georgia particularly hard hit. Pregnant and postpartum women who use drugs face significant barriers to accessing care and support. By centering their experiences and needs, Project ECHO works to ensure that all birthing people have the opportunity to survive and thrive during and after pregnancy.