Our story

In 2021, several partners of the Clayton County Health District's Healthier Generation Program (HGP) Community Action Network (CAN) and the Atlanta Healthy Start Initiative's (CAN) said ENOUGH is ENOUGH.  The poor outcomes in black infant and black maternal mortality was NOT acceptable. 

These partners conducted focus groups, community listening sessions, and personal interviews with individuals and families. Relentless in seeking a solution to address the 'root causes of this challenge,' they attempted to respond to a NOFO offered by HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Realizing there was a severe shortage of health care workers, and the global COVID-19 pandemic only served to exacerbate the already dismal outcomes.  

Having served as caregivers and resident health advocates for our own families, many of us knew the importance of having a "health advocate."

We also recognized that most of what we learned was by "trial and error."  We evaluated the benefits of providing training using evidenced based practices and scientifically informed curriculums to equip individuals and family members for infant and maternal mortality prevention. 

Through our research, we developed a comprehensive training system to provide "trusted family members" with health literacy and patient advocacy strategies to improve perinatal outcomes before, during and after pregnancy.  

After one year of strategic planning, key partners created a strategic response to the adverse infant and maternal crisis plaguing our communities. As a result of the generosity and unwavering commitment of our dedicated community partners, the H.E.A.R.T. for Clayton pilot was launched in May of 2022.  

A Champion for health care, CareSource (TM) led the charge of community action with a generous sponsorship to ensure the success of the pilot. Clayton County Health District, First TEAM America, The Center for Family and Community Wellness, Rollins Center for Language and Literacy, Atlanta Healthy Start Initiative, Clayton County Library System, Clayton County Collaborative, Georgia Department of Public Health's Maternal and Child Health Division and Work Source Atlanta Regional-Clayton all provided significant "time and talent" contributions for the successful development, implementation management and evaluation of the pilot.

You can join or start a H.E.A.R.T. journey in your community today!

Healthy Moms Matter!  Healthy Families Matter!  Healthy Lives Matter!

Establishment and Expansion timeline of the H.E.A.R.T. Health Advocacy Systems. 

• The H.E.A.R.T. for Clayton was launched in May 2022 in partnership with the Atlanta Healthy Start Initiative and expanded to H.E.A.R.T. for Georgia in August of 2022.
• H.E.A.R.T. for Carolinas (NC and SC) was established in August 2023. 
• H.E.A.R.T. for Colorado was established in October 2023.     
• H.E.A.R.T. has provided training opportunities for residents of Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia since 2024.
•  The H.E.A.R.T. for a Lifetime was established in August of 2024 to provide a comprehensive life course approach responding to critical healthcare needs of individuals and families.