CenteringPregnancy prepares to launch first patient cohort this spring

The Myrlie Evers-Williams Institute is proud to announce that the first cohort of CenteringPregnancy patients will begin their group prenatal care sessions in the coming spring. This launch marks an important milestone in MEWI’s expanding work to strengthen maternal health equity across Mississippi.

CenteringPregnancy is an evidence-based model of prenatal care that replaces brief one-on-one visits with longer shared appointments, where patients meet in a supportive group setting with their clinical team. Each session includes health assessments, education, and facilitated discussion, allowing patients to build relationships, engage more deeply with their care, and strengthen community connection. National research shows that the Centering model can improve prenatal engagement, reduce preterm birth, and increase patient satisfaction.

At UMMC, the implementation of CenteringPregnancy is made possible through the Mississippi Public Health Institute’s MS Women’s Equity, Access, and Long-Term Transformative Health (WEALTH) Grant, which supports maternal health initiatives focused on reducing disparities and improving outcomes for mothers across the state. The WEALTH Grant enables MEWI and UMMC partners to build the infrastructure, training, and staffing required to launch and sustain a high-quality CenteringPregnancy program.

“Partnering with MEWI on CenteringPregnancy has been deeply meaningful for our team at the Mississippi Public Health Institute. This model gives expectant mothers the time, support, and connection they deserve, and it helps address many of the barriers that contribute to poor maternal outcomes in our state. We are proud to help bring this innovative, patient-centered approach to Mississippi families and look forward to seeing its impact in the months ahead,” said Teresa Jones, MSN, RN, Clinical Program Manager for Maternal and Child Health at the Mississippi Public Health Institute.

The spring launch is the beginning of MEWI’s long-term plan to expand CenteringPregnancy offerings and deepen partnerships across clinical and community settings. As the program grows, it will serve as a model for patient-centered, equity-focused maternal health care throughout Mississippi.

MEWI looks forward to supporting the inaugural cohort and ensuring every participant feels empowered, informed, and supported throughout their pregnancy journey.