IU Fort Wayne speaker series spotlights gaps in maternal‑care access in Allen County

Community leaders from Parkview Health, Healthier Moms and Babies and St. Joseph Community Health Foundation convened at IU Fort Wayne on 2026-10-12 to discuss improving maternal-healthcare access, WPTA/21Alive reported. The Allen County Health Department told the meeting that 30.9% of pregnant residents did not receive prenatal care in the first trimester.

Paige Wilkins, CEO of Healthier Moms and Babies, told the group social determinants such as lack of housing, transportation and unconventional work hours contribute to low early prenatal care and higher risks. Wilkins said Allen County’s preterm birth rate is about 13% while her program’s rate is about 6%, and she urged greater clinician attention to postpartum depression, paid leave and screening with referrals and home visits for vulnerable families (WPTA/21Alive).

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