KU School of Medicine-Wichita Center for Research for Infant Birth & Survival received a $150,000 gift from Aetna Better Health of Kansas to expand the Baby Talk prenatal education program statewide.

The gift will provide the opportunity to expand the program to Kansas counties without perinatal education opportunities. Aetna Better Health of Kansas, a key supporter of maternal education literacy work, recognizes that a healthy start in life means overall positive long-term outcomes for moms and babies. The one-time funding will allow Baby Talk to do several things: 1. Add additional virtual classes, specifically for those that reside in Kansas, but outside of Sedgwick County; 2. Provide tangible supports for participants (infant car seat, portable crib or breastfeeding pillow kit); 3. Hire a part-time nurse to teach and support the virtual classes; and 4. Purchase technology that will allow Baby Talk to enhance the virtual presentations. Along with providing education, Baby Talk will screen each participant for perinatal stress, anxiety disorders, and tobacco and substance use, and work to connect participants with local, state and national resources for their specific needs.

“This is a game changer,” said Jane Brown, CEO of Aetna Better Health of Kansas. “Aetna couldn’t be more pleased to support the expansion of this work across the state, where it can be accessible to all pregnant members,”

Baby Talk is a part of the Kansas Perinatal Community Collaborative program, which is funded by the Kansas Department of Health & Environment. Baby Talk provides prenatal and infant care education to pregnant persons and their support person(s) residing in Sedgwick County, Kansas. Participants of the program have increased understanding of healthy pregnancy and safe infant care practices, are less likely to have a preterm birth, and are more likely to initiate breastfeeding for their baby.