News Release
Posted by The MolinaCares Accord

Molina Healthcare of Ohio Accelerates Needed Support and Resources for Women and New Mothers

Part of Molina Healthcare of Ohio Community Innovation Fund Commitment of $1.5 Million for Health and Wellness


COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 13, 2020 – Molina Healthcare of Ohio (“Molina”) continues to focus on improving the health and wellbeing of women and new mothers across the state. Through Molina’s direct outreach efforts, coupled with strong ties with partner organizations, the Company is increasing women’s access to prenatal, physical and behavioral health resources and other needed services.

“Molina Healthcare is committed to helping moms achieve a full-term birth and improve overall health outcomes of women in the communities we serve throughout Ohio,” said Ami Cole, plan president of Molina Healthcare of Ohio. “We partner with community organizations that break down barriers and increase access to needed services.”

New mothers, particularly those who find themselves raising children alone, disproportionality face housing and food insecurity, barriers to health care, and other factors that often require dedicated support experts who can help them to overcome challenges they may be facing. Molina partners with community organizations that focus on providing support resources to help women and new mothers holistically.

Molina is dedicated to building healthier communities through its Molina Community Innovation Fund, which will provide $1.5 million to support innovative programs in Ohio including:

  • Community Shelter Board, which rapidly re-houses shelter-bound women and children in Franklin County with support by Molina Housing Specialists;
  • MomsFirst, which works with pregnant women and new mothers in communities throughout Cleveland with in-person visits by community health workers to support better family health;
  • The Molina HOPE Diaper Bank, which collects and provides thousands of free diapers to mothers in need through partnerships with providers and community organizations, offsetting $70-$80 per family cost for monthly diapers;
  • Dress for Success, which supports women with job suiting and readiness skills to secure stable employment; and
  • Community Development for All People, whose programs include on-site Molina Community Connectors engaging moms with community resources ranging from access to workforce development training to a fresh produce market.

About Molina Healthcare of Ohio
Since 2005, Molina Healthcare of Ohio has been providing government-funded, quality health care to low-income individuals. As of March 31, 2020, the Company serves approximately 300,000 members through Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare-Medicaid (Duals) and Health Insurance Exchange programs across the state. To learn more, visit MolinaHealthcare.com.

About Community Shelter Board (CSB)
Community Shelter Board leads a coordinated, community effort to make sure everyone has a place to call home. CSB is the collective impact organization driving strategy, accountability, collaboration, and resources to achieve the best outcomes for people facing homelessness in Columbus and Franklin County. With the support of a compassionate community, our system of care served 15,000 people last year with homelessness prevention, shelter, street outreach, rapid re-housing, and permanent supportive housing. To learn more, visit csb.org.

About MomsFirst
MomsFirst is a home visitation program that helps mothers succeed during and after pregnancy. It is our mission to help mothers and families have healthy babies. MomsFirst was established in 1991 as the City’s Healthy Family/Healthy Start Program. Since that time, the program has evolved beyond getting pregnant women into prenatal care. Today, our primary goal is to reduce the number of African American families who experience the death of a newborn before their first birthday and to improve birth outcomes for all families. To learn more, visit momsfirst.org.

About Dress for Success
Dress for Success is a global not-for-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to almost 150 cities in 25 countries and has helped more than 1.2 million women work towards self-sufficiency. To learn more, visit dressforsuccess.org.

About Community Development for All People (CD4AP)
Community Development for All People grew out of a message of unconditional love and an atmosphere of radical hospitality. CD4AP was formed 2003 with the mission of improving the quality of life for persons on the South Side of Columbus. To learn more, visit 4allpeople.org.