As part of an effort to improve maternal and infant health outcomes, 1st Source Foundation awarded Beacon Health System a $135,000 grant.
South Bend-based Beacon Health will use the grant funds for a Mobile Mom Unit. The mobile unit will bring maternal health care services to under-resourced local communities. The program aims to address disparities in access to health care.
The Mobile Mom Unit will launch in late 2025. The retrofitted RV will include clinical and consultation areas and initially serve Elkhart and St. Joseph counties.
“1st Source Foundation is proud to support Beacon Health System’s new Mobile Mom Unit and invest in healthier families with this grant,” Shelli Workman, 1st Source Bank central region president, said in a press release.
The program focuses on building 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,” Susan King, Beacon Health Foundation president, said. “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. They will provide pregnancy testing, insurance enrollment assistance and 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 seventh-highest maternal mortality rate in the U.S, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Beacon Health said more than one-third of mothers in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties do not receive care during their first trimester of pregnancy.
To ensure the program’s expansion in 2026 into Marshall County, 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 support for the mothers and families it serves.
