Milwaukee's Blueprint: How a Local Partnership is Reversing the Maternal Health Crisis

MILWAUKEE, WI – May 14, 2026 – In a nation grappling with one of the highest maternal mortality rates among its high-income peers, a story of profound success is emerging from Milwaukee. A unique partnership between a digital health innovator and a legacy community organization is not just improving outcomes; it's saving lives with results so dramatic they are demanding a national audience. This Sunday, the leaders behind this model will take their story to Fox Business, appearing on Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew to discuss how they achieved what many have deemed impossible.

MySwaddle, a digital maternal health platform, and Penfield Children's Center, a 55-year-old anchor in Milwaukee's family services landscape, will share the stage. Their joint initiative, the "Growing Together" program, has become a beacon of hope, demonstrating that the devastating trend of maternal and infant death is, in fact, preventable. The program's success offers a powerful counter-narrative to the grim statistics that disproportionately affect Medicaid populations and communities of color across the United States.

A Model of Stunning Success

The core of the story lies in the staggering results of the "Growing Together" program. Operating across 12 of Milwaukee's highest-risk ZIP codes, the initiative offers a comprehensive approach that wraps clinical care within a supportive framework of peer groups, education, and social services. It’s a high-touch model amplified by technology, designed to address the whole person, not just the pregnancy.

The data from the program's first year is a testament to its efficacy. Among participants, an incredible 93% initiated prenatal care within the crucial first trimester (before 13 weeks), a stark contrast to the 53% average in the surrounding areas. Furthermore, 92% of mothers in the program delivered full-term babies, and 88% of those infants were born at a healthy birth weight. These metrics are critical indicators of long-term health for both mother and child.

Most significantly, the program recorded zero maternal or infant deaths. This achievement is monumental when contextualized against the local reality; one of the targeted ZIP codes has an infant mortality rate of 29 per 1,000 live births, a figure that rivals rates in some developing nations. The program has created a pocket of safety and health in a sea of systemic risk.

"Maternal health has been treated as a niche policy issue for too long," said Kate Grohall, President and Co-Founder of MySwaddle, in a statement. "It is a public health emergency, and it is preventable. We are grateful for the opportunity to bring this conversation to a national audience and to show what is actually possible when women get the right support, at the right time."

Bridging the Digital and Community Divide

The innovation of the Milwaukee model lies in its seamless integration of technology and trusted, on-the-ground community support. Penfield Children's Center brings decades of experience and deep-rooted trust within the community, providing the essential human connection and direct services that families need. Their long-standing presence allows them to effectively engage and support families who may be wary of traditional healthcare systems.

"The Growing Together program reflects what we know to be true at Penfield: when you meet families where they are and wrap real support around them, outcomes change," noted Polina Makievsky, CEO of Penfield Children's Center. "We are proud to share this work on a national stage and to show what community-driven, technology-supported care can accomplish."

MySwaddle provides the scalable digital infrastructure that makes this intensive support possible. The platform supports mothers from the beginning of their pregnancy through the first year postpartum, a critical period often overlooked. Importantly, MySwaddle's platform is HITRUST Certified, ensuring the highest level of data security. It is also designed to align with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) model. This federal framework focuses on improving access, quality, and whole-person care, making the MySwaddle platform a turnkey solution for health plans, hospital systems, and state Medicaid programs looking to implement TMaH-compliant initiatives without lengthy and costly custom development. The company is already expanding its model with partners in Wisconsin and North Carolina, signaling its replicability.

A National Stage for a Pressing Conversation

The upcoming feature on Health Uncensored with Dr. Drew elevates this local success story into a national conversation. The program, hosted by the renowned physician Dr. Drew Pinsky, provides a credible and widely viewed platform. Airing on Fox Business, which reached nearly a quarter-million business day viewers in the first quarter of 2026, ensures the message will reach a diverse audience of policymakers, healthcare executives, and the general public.

Dr. Pinsky's long career, from the iconic Loveline radio show to numerous television programs and podcasts, has established him as a trusted voice in public health. His show's focus on evidence-based information and unfiltered discussions is an ideal venue to dissect the complexities of the maternal health crisis and showcase a solution that is already working.

By presenting their data-driven success on a national stage, MySwaddle and Penfield Children's Center are not just sharing a feel-good story; they are issuing a challenge to the American healthcare system. They are demonstrating a scalable, effective, and humane blueprint for tackling one of the nation's most shameful public health failures. The broadcast offers a chance for leaders across the country to see a proven path forward—one that combines the efficiency of technology with the irreplaceable power of community care to ensure that more mothers and babies not only survive, but thrive.