[Madison, WI - May 6, 2025] – As national reports confirm the worsening of Black Maternal Child Health (BMCH) outcomes, the Dane County Health Council (DCHC) and its partners continue to forge forward with the Saving Our Babies Initiative and ConnectRx Wisconsin. Saving Our Babies and ConnectRx Wisconsin are making a life-changing impact on the health and well-being of Black women and their families in Dane County.
Launched in 2018 by the Dane County Health Council and partners, the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness (FFBWW), EQT By Design and the Black Maternal Child Health Alliance (BMCHA), the Saving Our Babies Initiative addresses the root causes of birth disparities experienced by Black women in Dane County. By committing to a single priority to improve Black maternal and child health outcomes, the DCHC and community partners paved the way for what has become a revolutionary partnership between health systems and community partners.
As the initiative celebrates its seventh year and the third anniversary of ConnectRx Wisconsin, efforts to reduce and eliminate disparities in birth outcomes for Black women and their infants are working. Since its inception, the initiative has performed more than 12,000 Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) screenings for women across Dane County. Within the population screened, the Saving Our Babies Initiative has achieved the following for Black women and their infants in Dane County:
- 93% of births at optimal gestational age
- 93% of infants born at a healthy birth weight
- 1,068 ConnectRx referrals made
- 3,900 referrals for SDOH support provided
- 396 births supported
- 241 doula-supported births
The initiative's outcomes for gestational age (93%) and infant birth weight (93%) – two major indicators of infant health — exceed countywide rates (86% and 85% respectively), according to Public Health Madison and Dane County data in 2024. The initiative’s outcomes demonstrate the power of targeted interventions and community-driven initiatives in improving birth outcomes.
“The data we are seeing from our clinical and community partners is encouraging” says James Arnett, Market President at United Point Health - Meriter, speaking on behalf of Dane County Health Council members. “We are observing a clear trend toward improving birth outcomes for Black women and their infants in Dane County, indicating that the community-driven strategies prioritized by the clinic-community partnership are making a measurable and positive impact. The Dane County Health Council, along with our corporate and community partners, remains committed to supporting this vital program and ensuring its continued success.”
Wisconsin ranks 49th in the nation for public health funding, spending $69 per person compared to the national average of $124, according to a Capital Times article published in February 2025. This disparity in public health funding further underscores the importance of initiatives like Saving Our Babies.
By the end of 2025, the DCHC will have invested almost $2.5 million into the initiative, and with the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness and EQT by Design, have collectively raised over $8 million to build and implement a braided funding model. This funding model combines corporate, philanthropic and private donations to ensure long-term sustainability and expansion of these vital services. DCHC and community partners are working diligently to explore and secure sustainable funding for the initiative.
“In 2018, we came together to confront unacceptable disparities in maternal and infant health, and since that time, we continue to prove that Saving Our Babies and ConnectRx Wisconsin are working,” says Lisa Peyton, CEO and President of the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness. “We’re seeing firsthand how community-driven initiatives and deep collaboration can combat disparities while elevating care for everyone. Expanding, not contracting, our efforts is essential during this critical time.”
As Saving Our Babies and Connect Rx Wisconsin celebrate milestones, partners acknowledge that sustaining the effort and its progress will require more community support. With current economic uncertainties, threats to federal funding, and the fatigued philanthropic landscape, the initiative is proud to be the recipient of United Way of Dane County’s Collaboration Award at their Community Celebration event this spring. This prestigious award affirms the strength of the partnership and clearly highlights why Saving Our Babies is a model to invest in.
"Saving Our Babies is a testament to the power of collaboration and dedicated effort," said Renee Moe, CEO of the United Way of Dane County. "We are incredibly proud of the progress we have made in improving birth outcomes for Black women in Dane County. This program is truly making a difference in the lives of families in our community, and with broader support, we can sustain these critical gains."
The initiative reached a significant milestone on Tuesday April 29, 2025, when the Roots and Wings Foundation stepped forward as the inaugural donor in a newly launched mini-campaign to sustain the transformative work of Saving Our Babies and ConnectRx Wisconsin.
“We are profoundly grateful to Roots & Wings for their extraordinary gift to help launch our campaign," said Ariel Robbins, Program Director for the Dane County Health Council. "This generous contribution provides vital funding to sustain Saving Our Babies and ConnectRx Wisconsin while inspiring our broader community to join this critical effort. Every donation helps ensure that every baby in our community can celebrate not only their first birthday, but thrive throughout childhood and beyond.”
This timely contribution comes as the Dane County Health Council partners with the United Way of Dane County to raise essential funding while simultaneously developing long-term sustainable funding streams. The partnership exemplifies the collaborative approach that has made Saving Our Babies and ConnectRx Wisconsin successful models for community-based health interventions.
For more information about Saving Our Babies and how to support this vital work, please visit www.savingourbabieswi.org.
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About the Dane County Health Council:
The Dane County Health Council is a coalition of healthcare providers, government and nonprofits with a mission to eliminate gaps and barriers to optimal health and reduce disparities in health outcomes in Dane County. Council members include Access Community Health Centers, Black Maternal and Child Health Alliance, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, Madison Metropolitan School District, Public Health Madison & Dane County, SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital - Madison, United Way of Dane County, UnityPoint Health – Meriter and UW Health.
About Roots & Wings Foundation: The Roots & Wings Foundation is a family foundation established in 2020 by Judy and Gordon Faulkner. Roots & Wings makes grants across the fields of healthcare, early learning, basic needs, and safety & justice. The foundation supports non-profit organizations that help low-income children and families reach their full potential through prevention, early intervention, and in-depth programming that changes lives. More at www.rootswings.org.
Contact:
Nicole Aimone
