Project Grant UK955657

The Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration awarded the University of Kentucky Research Foundation $1,794,316 under the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies Program (CFDA 93.912) on September 30, 2026, to establish the Kentucky Rural Moms Network, a collaborative initiative expanding access to maternal mental health care and reducing perinatal behavioral health disparities in rural and Appalachian communities across Kentucky.

The project delivers workforce development, care coordination, telehealth services, and community-based education. The University of Kentucky College of Social Work will offer postpartum support international (PSI) certification scholarships to social workers, nurses, doulas, lactation consultants, and other providers committed to rural care. A maternal mental health certificate and specialized field placements will prepare master of social work students for careers in perinatal behavioral health, with practicum sites in medically underserved areas. Newly trained professionals will be matched with telehealth platforms and supported through supervision stipends to encourage retention and licensure. The project will pilot an obstetric care coordinator model embedded in rural clinics to assess patient needs, provide mental health screening and referrals, and follow up at key postpartum intervals. Community-based education co-led by doulas, birth educators, and lactation consultants will promote wellness and reduce stigma. Network partners including federally qualified health centers, mental health agencies, and area health education centers will support training, data sharing, and coordinated service delivery.

Place of performance is Kentucky. The period of performance runs through September 29, 2030.