Saint Francis Hospital Awarded $85,000 Grant to Launch MOM-HEART Program
August 10, 2026HARTFORD, Conn. – Saint Francis Hospital has been awarded an $85,000 grant from the Coverys Community Healthcare Foundation, Inc. (CCHF) to launch the Maternal Outreach Monitoring for Health Equity, Advocacy, Response and Treatment (MOM-HEART) program, an innovative initiative designed to improve maternal health outcomes by extending support and monitoring beyond the hospital and into the community.
The MOM-HEART program will support pregnant and postpartum patients at risk for hypertension and preeclampsia through a combination of Community Health Worker (CHW) support, home blood pressure monitoring, social care resources and direct communication pathways with obstetric care teams. The goal is to identify warning signs earlier, improve care coordination and reduce the risk of serious maternal complications.
"Hypertension and preeclampsia remain among the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly among populations that experience barriers to care," said Hildred Rochon, MD, Vice Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saint Francis Hospital. "Through MOM-HEART, we are creating a proactive system that empowers patients to monitor their health, strengthens communication between patients and providers and enables earlier intervention when warning signs emerge. Our goal is to ensure every mother has access to the support and care she needs for a healthy pregnancy and recovery."
The program leverages Trinity Health Of New England’s community-clinical integration model by providing mothers with ongoing support after discharge and helping them address both medical and social factors that influence health outcomes.
"MOM-HEART represents an important opportunity to extend care beyond the hospital and into the communities where mothers live, work and raise their families," said Carolyn Alessi, Regional Director of Community Health and Well-Being, Trinity Health Of New England. "By combining Community Health Worker support, blood pressure monitoring and connections to essential social resources, we can help women navigate the critical postpartum period, address barriers to care and ensure they receive timely support when concerns arise. This program is designed to improve quality and safety outcomes while advancing health equity for mothers and babies."
The grant will also support Health Equity training for obstetric providers focused on maternal health outcomes. The training will help care teams identify systemic factors contributing to racial disparities in maternal and infant health, strengthen communication with patients and develop interventions that promote more equitable care.
MOM-HEART, which will be implemented this summer, builds on the successful clinical and social care integration model at Saint Francis, complementing other recent maternal health initiatives, including the Orange Bracelet Program and the opening of the hospital’s dedicated Obstetrics Emergency Department (OBED).
Saint Francis plans to use the pilot to develop and refine a maternal health-specific care model that can be evaluated, replicated and potentially expanded across Trinity Health Of New England.
“Through collaboration, innovation and a shared commitment to health equity, we have an opportunity to improve outcomes for mothers and babies while creating a model for the future of maternal care,” said Karianne Silverman, MD, FACOG, Chair, Women and Infants Service Line, Trinity Health Of New England.