Baby and Me Expands Across Arkansas, Supporting Mothers and Families

In Arkansas, where child health outcomes have historically lagged behind national averages, new mothers often face significant challenges. To address these challenges, programs offering education, emotional support, and practical guidance have been introduced over the years. Among them, the Baby and Me program has emerged as a vital resource, helping families navigate the early months of parenthood with confidence.

Following its success, the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS), and the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) announced that Baby and Me will expand to 18 locations across the state.

Supporting Families at Every Stage

Baby and Me is a free program that equips pregnant women and new mothers with essential knowledge about infant care, including safe sleep practices, home safety, and developmental milestones. Running for seven months, the program emphasizes building confident, mindful parenting skills, while supporting both mental and physical well being.

The program reduces parental stress, helps prevent child abuse and neglect, and connects families with community resources. This creates a reliable network for parents during the critical early months of their child’s life.

Tiffany Wright, director of DCFS, said that Baby and Me empowers parents to feel confident and capable, which in turn strengthens families and communities.

A Lifeline for Families

For many families in Arkansas, Baby and Me offers both guidance and reassurance. By providing practical education, emotional support, and access to community resources, the program helps parents navigate the challenges of early parenthood with confidence.

As it expands into Johnson, Pope, and White counties, the program reflects a broader vision: mothers empowered to care for their infants, children given a safe start, and families supported during a critical stage of life. Participation is straightforward. Families must be enrolled in the Women, Infants, and Children program, with the mother either in her third trimester or caring for a baby under one month old. Household income must be at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level. To date, more than 5,500 families across Arkansas have benefited from the program.

Expanding Maternal Care Efforts

The expansion of Baby and Me coincides with broader state initiatives to improve maternal and infant health. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders recently introduced the Healthy Moms Healthy Babies Act, designed to strengthen maternal care in Arkansas. The legislation follows recommendations from the Governor’s Strategic Committee on Maternal Health, established last year.

Key provisions include Presumptive Medicaid Eligibility, allowing pregnant women to access prenatal care while applications are processed. The act also provides reimbursement pathways for doulas and community health workers, and expands Medicaid coverage to include remote ultrasounds, blood pressure monitoring, and continuous glucose monitoring. These reforms represent an additional $7.44 million investment in maternal health services.

The legislation also unbundles Medicaid payments for pregnancy care, covering up to 14 prenatal and postnatal visits to encourage consistent engagement with healthcare providers. This change is projected to increase Medicaid’s investment in maternal care by roughly $12.2 million. Additionally, a 70 percent increase in Medicaid reimbursements for both traditional deliveries and C sections, totaling $25.7 million, aims to improve access for expectant mothers and encourage provider participation. Combined with $13 million allocated in the state budget for maternal health, these measures strengthen the infrastructure supporting programs like Baby and Me.