Humana Supports Maternal Health and Multigenerational Efforts in Georgia

A multigenerational community health approach is a core engagement priority in Georgia on display through Humana’s support of two Atlanta-area community-based programs. Project Pinnacle and Morehouse School of Medicine Center for Maternal Health Equity received a total of $250,000 in grants from Humana through its community investment process. 

“Humana is committed to creating an equitable healthcare ecosystem within each of our communities so that every person has an opportunity to reach their full health potential,” said J. Nwando Olayiwola, MD, MPH, Chief Health Equity Officer and Senior Vice President. “This takes a multi-generational approach as exemplified by these two programs. Solutions must be innovative and holistic, leveraging digital, social, behavioral and clinical care and solutions while empowering a diverse and community-centered workforce.”  

Humana’s support is part of broader efforts in Georgia and nationwide to improve health equity by removing barriers to health and health care, including housing stability. Last month, Humana announced a large additional investment in affordable housing to support members in Georgia and beyond. The most recent grants, awarded through the Humana health equity team’s community investment process, include direct funding of: 

• Project Pinnacle ($150,000) - Created by Judge Asha F. Jackson in DeKalb County, the grant will support the one-year mandatory in-court experience for non-violent offenders under the age of 25 to help multigenerational upward mobility. The goal of the co-ed program is to support young people from entering a cycle of recidivism by providing them with life skills training, education about legal rights and responsibilities, behavioral and physical health support, and career development opportunities. 

• Morehouse School of Medicine Center for Maternal Health Equity ($100,000) – Georgia has consistently been among the states with the highest maternal death rates in the U.S. with Black women being disproportionately affected. The World Health Organization recommends that evaluation of “Maternal Near Misses,” when a woman nearly dies but survives pregnancy complication, is key to improving maternal health services. Grant funding will further enable key research and solutions.    

“Project Pinnacle was lifesaving and life-changing for me,” said program member Brianna Riley. “Lifesaving because if I wasn’t in the program I probably wouldn’t be where I am now, and life-changing because while in the program, I had the chance to experience a lot of things that made me not only a better person, but a better mom.”

Judge Asha F. Jackson, Dekalb County Superior Court and Project Pinnacle creator echoed these sentiments: “Providing young people, charged for the first time, with life skills training, career development and responsibility education helps prevent them from future offenses as well as restores them to a respectful position in the community. Humana’s partnership exemplifies their support of both the community as well as the whole person, which will absolutely have a multi-generational impact.”

Explore Humana’s 2022 Impact Report to learn more about our commitment to transforming care.