Beacon receives 1st Source Foundation grant for mobile maternal care services to address disparities

As part of an ongoing effort to improve maternal and infant health outcomes in our region, Beacon Health System has been awarded $135,000 in a multi-year grant from 1st Source Foundation. The grant will fund a Mobile Mom Unit designed to bring critical maternal healthcare services directly to under-resourced local communities, with a focus on addressing disparities in access to healthcare.

The Mobile Mom Unit, which will launch in late 2025, will serve as a comprehensive healthcare space designed to reach women where they live and work. The retrofitted RV will include both clinical and consultation areas, with a welcoming exterior design that makes healthcare feel more accessible and less intimidating for the families it will initially serve in Elkhart and St. Joseph (Ind.) counties.

“1st Source Foundation is proud to support Beacon Health System’s new Mobile Mom Unit and invest in healthier families with this grant,” said Shelli Workman, Central Region President at 1st Source Bank.

Bill Burton, East Region President at 1st Source Bank, added, “This mobile unit will provide vital resources to mothers and babies in our communities by delivering outstanding healthcare to their neighborhoods and places of work.”

The program’s long-term vision focuses on building trusted relationships with women before, during, and after pregnancy. By establishing these connections early and maintaining support through the first year after birth, the Mobile Mom Unit aims to create lasting improvements in maternal and infant health outcomes.

“Early access to prenatal care is critical for preventing maternal and infant mortality,” said Susan King, President, Beacon Health Foundation. “Many of our families face multiple barriers to receiving care, including transportation challenges and childcare issues. By bringing these services directly into the community, we can help ensure healthier outcomes for both mothers and babies.”

Community Health Workers will staff the unit, providing pregnancy testing, insurance enrollment assistance, and vital connections to medical care and support services. Through partnerships with WIC offices, neighborhood clinics, and local health centers, the unit will maintain regular schedules at community locations such as apartment complexes, neighborhood centers, and churches.

Indiana has the third-highest maternal mortality rate in the U.S., and local data shows concerning trends in maternal health across our region. In both Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, more than one-third of mothers do not receive care during their first trimester of pregnancy. The disparities are even more pronounced for families with Medicaid cover

age, where mortality rates are three times higher than those with private insurance.

To ensure the program’s expansion in 2026 into Marshall County and long-term sustainability, Beacon Health System and Beacon Health Foundation will support ongoing operational costs and program needs. The Mobile Mom Unit will collaborate with a diverse network of community partners, including WIC offices, La Casa de Amistad, One Roof and Heart City Health, to ensure comprehensive support for the mothers and families it serves.