The BIRTH Fund has expanded from 100 participants to 150, now serving pregnant women in 17 ZIP codes in Indianapolis with high infant mortality rates.
The program, launched by the Hogsett administration in November 2025 in seven ZIP codes, provides cash assistance to expectant mothers to reduce maternal and infant death. The included ZIP codes all have an infant mortality rate that is at least 200% higher than the national average.
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Eligible participants receive access to physical and mental health resources as well as financial support, which is about $20,000 over the course of three years.
According to a study conducted by The Women’s Fund of Central Indiana, inequitable outcomes in infant and maternal health can be caused by challenges related to transportation to prenatal and post-pregnancy appointments, differences in cultural knowledge of prenatal and pregnancy care, and time and financial ability to prioritize infant and maternal health, without compromising on necessities like housing and food.
The BIRTH Fund hopes to help close economic gaps, relieve mothers of stress, and improve the health outcomes for themselves and the infant.
Anita Lewis, a member of the health and education committees for the local chapter of the NAACP, believes the program will benefit many Indianapolis families, as well as the community overall.
“This is the kind of help that will encourage not just one family, but every family around them who watches the program work. It will increase the likelihood of someone from the neighborhood seeing someone just like them get help for their mental health, and when you see someone you know try something different, you’re more likely to give those services a shot,” Lewis said.
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Ashley Ford is a Free Press Indiana reporter focused on issues affecting women and girls across Indiana. You can reach her at ashley.ford@freepressindiana.org.
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