Every Mother and Child Deserves a Healthy Start
In the face of rising maternal mortality rates, Maternal Health Haven is reimagining the continuum of care pathway for pregnant and post-partum women who lack a stable home.
Our Mission & Vision
A strong early bond lays the foundation for children to grow into happy, resilient, independent adults. When pregnant and post-partum women have access to safe housing and quality health care, their babies can thrive. But for women without stable housing, reliable transportation, or financial and social support, that care is often out of reach. Our unique model aims to change that.
Under the visionary leadership of Roseanna Means, MD, we are creating safe, community-based maternal care centers that provide short-term clinical care and continue to support mothers from pregnancy through their baby’s first year, closing alarming health disparities faced by women experiencing homelessness. At the same time, our approach reduces avoidable emergency visits, costly hospital stays, and an unsustainable strain on the health care system. The result? Healthier mothers, healthier babies, and stronger communities.
Who benefits from our new model of care?
Mothers and Babies
Increased access to medical care and case management that continues beyond the pregnancy through baby’s first year.
Reduced risk of complications and improved long-term maternal health outcomes.
Stronger start for mom and child by having emotional support and parenting resources.
Hospitals and Insurers
Fewer emergency visits and avoidable lengthy hospital stays.
Lower costs through preventive and coordinated care.
Smoother discharge planning and improved continuity of care.
Communities
Increased partnership opportunities with local nonprofits, faith-based groups, and social service agencies.
Stronger neighborhood networks connecting families to resources and trusted support.
Safe, compassionate, and transformative care for high-risk pregnant and post-partum women and their children.
Mimi’s House: A First-of-Its-Kind Maternal Care Center
We’re working to create our first community-based maternal care center—Mimi’s House—named to honor the spirit of beloved grandmothers everywhere who nurture, protect, and guide their families.
A diverse team of physicians, midwives, doulas, social workers, and other professionals will deliver essential care on site with an added focus on connecting moms to much needed resources such as housing, transportation, and educational and employment opportunities.
Leading Maternal Health Haven: Roseanna Means, MD
For more than forty years, Dr. Roseanna Means has dedicated her career to meeting the needs of women with complex medical issues who are experiencing housing insecurity. Dr. Means has built nationally recognized programs such as Health Care Without Walls and the Bridges to Moms program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, proving that comprehensive, community-based care can transform lives. Today, she brings that experience, vision, and track record to Maternal Health Haven and Mimi’s House, turning decades of frontline work into a groundbreaking new model for maternal health.
Dr. Means has assembled an Executive Advisory Team of leaders in maternal health policy and practice, medicine, government, philanthropy, and community advocacy to help guide this groundbreaking work. Their collective expertise will help strengthen our vision and ensure that the work is scalable and remains at the forefront of innovation.
“Health encompasses more than what takes place in the clinic or hospital. Understanding and addressing the context, challenges, and concerns our patients face can change their whole health trajectory. Maternal health care is poised for change—so let’s do this! The lives of our children depend on it.”
— Dr. Roseanna Means