January 2026
IFS was proud to partner with SCETV to develop a special edition of SCETV’s “Palmetto Perspectives Saving Mom” series highlighting SC leadership, innovation, and coordination among maternal health initiatives to address major issues, especially those related to Respectful Maternity Care. With funding from the Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare at USCSOM and IFS, the panel featured our own Deborah Billings, PhD, Senior Research Associate, Institute for Families in Society (USC); Coordinator/Principal Investigator, Voices|Voces Initiative, and other experts in maternal health care from across SC including Faith Polkey, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Beaufort Jasper Hampton Comprehensive Health Services; Maria Martin, MSW, CHW, Executive Director, PASOs; Lamikka Samuel, LMSW, CCHW, Senior Director, Family Solutions, SC Office of Rural Health; Ladrea Williams-Briggs, DrPH, MS, Executive Director, #NotUsSC.
Watch the Full Episode - Saving Mom: Part 2 | Palmetto Perspectives - YouTube
The panel addressed major challenges facing pregnant and postpartum Women of Color and explained some of the key services that improve maternal outcomes, including Midwives for clinical care, and Doulas and Community Health Workers for community-based care. Lastly, Dr. Billings highlighted some of the new resources being developed including the soon-to-be launched Voices|Voces Learning Modules, featuring the voices of pregnant and postpartum women using Medicaid to cover the costs of their care.
Voices|Voces Initiative - SC HealthViz - Geospatial Health, Stats & Policy Research and the Empower Palmetto Moms Digital Support Portal, a central resource for people who are expecting or have recently given birth, their partners and support systems, community organization and providers.