Built on the belief that a child’s first years are critical to life-long health and thriving, The Dallas Foundation has announced a strategic $2 million investment to address what it calls “a maternal health crisis.”

The investment is part of The Dallas Foundation’s Bold Steps, Bright Futures strategic plan, which identifies pediatric and maternal health as one of three cornerstone pillars and a commitment to creating the conditions “families need to thrive from the very start.”

The funding consists of two $1 million grants to the Child Poverty Action Lab (CPAL) and to the Parkland Health Foundation. Each organization will receive $250,000 annually over the next four years to provide solutions and clinical care in underserved communities.

“For nearly 100 years, we’ve been dedicated to helping improve the Dallas community and ensuring that all children are set up to succeed from the start, ” Julie Diaz, president and CEO at The Dallas Foundation, said in a statement. “As we prepare for our Centennial in 2029, this $2 million investment represents a commitment to moving beyond short-term fixes toward long-term change. By partnering with CPAL and Parkland Health, we are uniting clinical excellence with data-driven support to meet mothers where they are.”

Rising infant mortality rate

The Dallas Foundation said that early childhood has been a critical part of its work for decades, founded in a strong belief that investing in children before kindergarten “yields the greatest returns for individuals, families, and communities alike.” In the last five years, the foundation has invested more than $3.5 million to advance early childhood initiatives in Dallas.

The region faces a maternal health crisis despite the area’s growth. Between 2013 and 2023, the infant mortality rate in Dallas County increased by more than 6%. Black and Hispanic women experience disproportionately higher rates of mortality and complications, with severe obstetric complications occurring in 4.42% of births across the county. These challenges come with significant economic costs, impacting workforce productivity and the development of the next generation of workers, the foundation said.

Child Poverty Action Lab

As the research and development partner, CPAL will use the $1 million grant to empower regional coordination and address drivers of maternal health disparities through core initiatives including:

• Trust Her: Expanding equitable access to contraceptive care across North Texas
• Maternal Health Accelerator: Leading a regional coalition to reduce severe complications through data-informed strategies
• TeamBirth Implementation: Advancing the regional rollout of the TeamBirth platform designed to improve care coordination and improve the birthing experience at more than two dozen hospitals across North Texas.

“On behalf of our entire organization, I thank The Dallas Foundation for its confidence in our mission,” said Alan Cohen, founder, president, and CEO of CPAL. “Continued support at this significant level will continue to improve maternal outcomes and early childhood development in the Dallas community.”

Parkland Health Foundation

As the primary safety-net provider delivering nearly one-third of all babies born in Dallas County, the Parkland Health Foundation will use the $1 million grant to expand frontline medical and wraparound support. Goals for the next four years include:

• Women and Infants Specialty Health (WISH): Providing a service line for prenatal, maternity, and postpartum care in 10 primary clinics across the county and Parkland’s flagship hospital location
• Scaling eMCAP: Extending the award-winning Maternal Care After Pregnancy (eMCAP) program, which provides postpartum nurse home visits to every ZIP code in Dallas County
• Wraparound Services: Increasing access to mental health support, doula programs, and essential medical tools like blood pressure cuffs and iron supplements to prevent complications before they escalate.

“We’re grateful for The Dallas Foundation’s investment which reflects the power of partnership in addressing complex health challenges,” Michael Horne, EdD, MPP, President and CEO of Parkland Health Foundation, said in a statement. “With this support, Parkland Health is expanding access to high‑quality care and strengthening wraparound supports that address health disparities and underlying barriers, leading to safer pregnancies, healthier births, and stronger, thriving communities across Dallas County.”

Don’t miss what’s next. Subscribe to Dallas Innovates.

Track Dallas-Fort Worth’s business and innovation landscape with our curated news in your inbox Tuesday-Thursday.