Cape Fear Valley Health receives $1.6 million grant to support maternal and infant health. 5 hours ago FAYETTEVILLE, NC - Cape Fear Valley Health has received a $1.6 million grant from The Duke Endowment to support maternal and infant health initiatives across North Carolina and South Carolina. The multiyear Maternal Infant Health Carolinas initiative will focus on improving maternal and infant health outcomes, strengthening care coordination and advancing health equity. Cape Fear Valley Health will participate in H.E.A.R. (Healing, Equity, Advocacy and Respect) 4 Mamas and Babies, a text- and phone-based screening and referral program developed by the Medical University of South Carolina. The program is designed to identify medical, behavioral health and social needs during pregnancy and throughout the postpartum year. Participants can be connected with services addressing issues including maternal depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, chronic health conditions, intimate partner violence and social needs. The Duke Endowment selected Cape Fear Valley Health and four other health systems to form a regional network. Participants will receive training, technology support, evaluation resources and technical assistance through a center led by MUSC in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Cape Fear Valley Health will also work with local health care providers, public health agencies and community organizations to connect families with medical, behavioral health and social support services. The health system plans to establish a community advisory board to provide feedback and help identify local resource gaps. Cape Fear Valley Health said the grant will help address maternal health challenges in Cumberland County, including disparities and preterm birth rates. The initiative is intended to develop long-term strategies for improving maternal and infant health outcomes and connecting families with support throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.

The Blood Connection to assume operations of Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center. FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.-(BUSINESS WIRE)-Blood donors in Fayetteville will continue supporting patients at Cape Fear Valley Health through a new nonprofit community blood center as The Blood Connection (TBC) assumes operation of the Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center effective August 1. While the name of the blood center will change to the Fayetteville Community Blood Center, the purpose will remain the same: to give Fayetteville a chance to save lives through blood donation. TBC's Fayetteville Community Blood Center will close on August 1 for remodeling and will reopen on Friday, September 4. Fayetteville can expect expanded donor incentives and a renewed focus on community engagement. The Center will be open from 11a-7p on Monday and Tuesday, and from 7a-3p Friday through Sunday. Cape Fear Valley Health announced the transition is part of a strategic resource planning change with TBC becoming the sole supplier of blood products for the health system. This transition allows the hospital to focus on patient care, while TBC dedicates its resources to recruiting donors, collecting blood and maintaining a safe blood supply. "Blood is a gift that transforms patient outcomes and gives patients the strength to fight and to recover," said Delisa K. English, President and CEO of The Blood Connection. "For over six decades, healthcare systems have placed their trust in us because of our reliability and dedication. It's our honor to stand in the gap for countless trauma victims, children fighting cancer, mothers experiencing childbirth complications and surgery patients." "The true strength of our Blood Donor Center has never been the building or the name on the door. It has always been the generosity of the people who roll up their sleeves to help someone they may never meet," said April Maroschak, Corporate Director of Oncology and Laboratory Service at Cape Fear Valley Health. "As this transition takes place, we hope our employees and community members will continue that tradition by donating blood through The Blood Connection so patients across our region receive the care they need." To welcome you to the newly remodeled Fayetteville Community Blood Center at 3357 Village Drive, whole blood donors can earn $40 in TBC Rewards and eligible first-time platelet donors earn $150 in Rewards from September 4-13. Learn more at TheBloodConnection.org. About The Blood Connection Founded in Greenville, SC, The Blood Connection has been committed to saving lives since 1962. TBC is an independently managed, not-for-profit, community blood center that provides blood products to more than 145 hospitals and emergency partners within South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. TBC works diligently to collect blood from volunteer donors to meet the ever-increasing demand. By keeping collections local, TBC serves hundreds of thousands of patients a year in its communities. TBC is licensed and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For more information, visit thebloodconnection.org.