Maternal health in Greater Washington — and especially in Washington, D.C. — is in crisis, and ignoring it comes at a cost our region cannot afford.
For too many families, pregnancy and childbirth come with risks that have little to do with medical care alone. Where someone lives, whether they can get to appointments, whether they have stable housing, enough food, reliable transportation or support after delivery often matter just as much as the care they receive while giving birth. When those needs go unmet, the consequences extend far beyond the delivery room, affecting families and communities across the region.
It is worth asking a simple question: what would it look like if we treated maternal health as something we protect together? And just as importantly, what happens if we do not?
Those questions are at the heart of a $2.2 million investment to improve maternal health outcomes in the region. Funded in large part by a $1.4 million commitment from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield through the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s Developing Families Maternal Health Fund, the funding supports 11 nonprofit organizations working every day to support parents and babies across the District and Greater Washington. It reflects a shared belief that maternal health requires sustained, community-based investment.
The Developing Families Maternal Health Fund, managed by the Greater Washington Community Foundation, invests in community-based organizations primarily within Wards 5, 7, and 8, where women of color continue to face higher barriers to affordable, high-quality maternal care. The fund highlights an urgent need in D.C., where Black women account for 90% of all pregnancy-related deaths.
As a not-for-profit healthcare organization based in D.C., CareFirst is part of the region’s ecosystem that shapes health. The Greater Washington Community Foundation has been the region’s philanthropic leader for more than 50 years, partnering with donors to invest in the most critical needs facing our communities. Together, we are working to build a maternal health system that centers the communities most affected by this crisis. We know that pregnancy outcomes are determined well before the first prenatal visit and long after birth. When that reality is ignored, families pay the price and the effects are felt across our region.
The need is clear. The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations. The 2025 March of Dimes Report Card shows that the District of Columbia’s maternal mortality rate is 28.2, higher than the national average of 23.5. The racial and wealth gap is also visible. Black mothers in D.C. experienced a preterm birth rate of 14.5%, while those covered by Medicaid saw a rate of 14.7%, the highest within their respective categories. Overall, the District ranks 45th out of 52 jurisdictions — including all states, D.C., and Puerto Rico — for preterm birth, with a rate of 11.8%.
This is unacceptable.
The numbers reflect everyday realities for families. They are balancing pregnancy with work, keeping track of appointments, arranging childcare, learning how to be first-time parents, managing time off and figuring out how to recover after birth without falling behind financially. These challenges do not resolve themselves without intention and investment.
Improving maternal health outcomes requires more than clinical care alone. It means addressing the social drivers of health that shape whether families can access care and afford it. When those drivers are ignored, the effects ripple outward, leading to missed work, delayed recovery and long-term health issues.
CareFirst has invested in maternal health across the region for more than a decade, supporting prenatal and postpartum care, home visits, doula services and mental health support in the District, Maryland and Northern Virginia. The Greater Washington Community Foundation has similarly focused on advancing health equity through strategic grantmaking and partnerships with community-based organizations. These efforts reflect a simple truth: health begins in homes and communities, not just doctors’ offices.
The latest round of grants is an extension of this long-term commitment. Rather than launching new programs, the funding strengthens organizations already doing the work. Mamatoto Village offers home-based care for pregnant and postpartum families. SheRises, Inc. focuses on postpartum guidance for young Black and Latina mothers. The Healthy Babies Project works with young parents experiencing homelessness. Whitman-Walker provides care for pregnant people living with HIV.
Together, these efforts reflect a shared focus on meeting families where they are.
Maternal health is not a niche issue. It is a community issue. It is a measure of whether a region values the people who live there. And right now, maternal health is in crisis.
If we want a healthy, stable region and stronger families, investment in maternal health cannot be optional in D.C.
Dr. Bryan O. Buckley is head of public health and community impact at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. Dr. Marla Dean is senior director for health equity at the Greater Washington Community Foundation.