Supporting Women’s Health
Living in rural Western North Carolina makes accessing regular prenatal care challenging. MAHEC is committed to improving maternal and infant health in WNC. As the region’s only high-risk obstetrics provider, MAHEC offers specialized care for complicated pregnancies and serves as the sole residency program for aspiring ob/gyns in the area.
Cailyn’s story shows the profound impact of MAHEC’s work. As a high school athlete, she began taking pain pills after a sports-related injury. Over time, her substance use accelerated, and she found herself in and out of rehab. When Cailyn became pregnant with her son, she found hope and support through MAHEC’s Project CARA—Care that Advocates Respect/Resilience/Recovery for All.
“I want people to know there’s help. You’re treated like a human being instead of the stigma, shame, and guilt. I don’t know what I would have done without this program. My whole family is so grateful for Project CARA.”
For the past decade, Project CARA has provided non-judgmental, patient-centered care to more than 1,500 pregnant and parenting individuals affected by substance use disorder.
“It’s such a vulnerable time, being pregnant and dealing with this disease. There were looks, and I felt judged. But Project CARA was like a breath of fresh air. They said, ‘We will be with you every step of the way.’”
With rates of opioid-related overdose death, substance use, and behavioral health disorders higher in our region than state and national averages, Project CARA’s focus goes beyond offering care; it also works to reduce the stigma around perinatal substance use disorders, ensuring every patient receives the high-quality care they deserve.
Now in recovery, Cailyn says, “I want people to know that there’s help. I don’t know what I would have done without this program. My whole family is so grateful for Project CARA.” As she shares happy photos of her husband and two children, she says, “These are all of the gifts recovery has given me!”
A gift to the MAHEC Annual Fund helps provide specialized care for high-risk pregnancies, expand telemedicine in rural areas, and support programs like Project CARA, Centering Pregnancy®, and Centering Parenting®. Your contribution enables MAHEC to serve communities with limited healthcare access, collaborate with regional providers, and ensure women and families receive essential care during pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond.
MAHEC is improving maternal and infant health outcomes in WNC.
