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In the critical moments of childbirth, every second counts—and every family, no matter where they live, deserves access to care that can make the difference between life and death.
The Problem
In Mississippi, too many families face higher risks during pregnancy and childbirth simply because of where they live. The state has the highest infant mortality rate in the nation, with 9.2 deaths per 1,000 live births, nearly 70% higher than the national average. This reflects serious gaps in maternal and infant health care access across the state.
One major barrier is timely, specialized support. Over half of Mississippi’s counties are classified as maternity care deserts, meaning they have no hospital-based obstetric services, no birth center and often no OB-GYN. In many of these areas, emergency departments are staffed by providers who have received little or no training in obstetric or neonatal emergencies—leaving both mothers and newborns vulnerable during moments when every second counts.
These gaps in care contribute not only to high infant mortality rates but also to Mississippi’s high maternal mortality rate—where more than 80% of maternal deaths are considered preventable. But thanks to a growing collaboration between healthcare providers and community leaders, new solutions are taking root.
The Solution
In response, the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) launched the STORK Program, short for Stabilizing OB and Neonatal Patients, Training for OB/Neonatal Emergencies, Outcome Improvements, Resource Sharing, and Kind Care for Vulnerable Families. With support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, STORK is equipping rural emergency departments and first responders with the hands-on skills and confidence they need to manage obstetric and neonatal crises.
Through realistic simulations using high-fidelity mannequins like “Victoria” (a life-like birthing simulator) and “Super Tory” (a newborn model), participants train for real-world scenarios like breech births, postpartum hemorrhage and neonatal resuscitation.
The Impact
Since launching in 2022, STORK has trained nearly 950 healthcare professionals in 40 of the state’s 82 counties, strengthening emergency care in some of the state’s most underserved areas. And those trainings are already saving lives.
In one case, just weeks after training, a rural care team safely delivered twins during a breech labor—a high-risk scenario that, without STORK, may have ended very differently.
“She [the mother] knew she was having twins, but didn’t know anything else,” recalled Jennifer Boutwell, Simpson General Hospital’s lead emergency room nurse practitioner. “She had very little prenatal care.”
Before STORK, Boutwell said, “I would have known to check her for hemorrhaging, but I would have had no idea what the danger signs were, and no idea how dilated her cervix was. It [STORK] saved three lives that day.”
Now, other states are taking notice. Health leaders from across the South have reached out to STORK for guidance on building similar programs. What began as a Mississippi-based innovation is now becoming a national model for how partnerships can close gaps in rural health care—and save lives.
As Mississippi continues working to reduce maternal and infant mortality, programs like STORK are proving that training can be more than just a professional development tool—it can be a life-saving force. And in every rural hospital and ambulance it reaches, STORK is helping to build a future where every family, in every zip code, has a safer start.
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