Wildlife and nature

Animal shelters and rescues

Theater and dance

Rivers, parks and trails

Hunger and food

Schools and learning

Housing and homelessness

Community health

Mental health

Mentoring and foster care

Legal help and rights

Jobs and money help

Atlanta

The Triangle

Everywhere

The Collective Workshop

Royal Animal Refuge

Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta

Georgia Advancing Communities Together

Atlanta Writers Club

Cobb Collaborative

Bosleys Place

Jewish Fertility Foundation

Tom Cannon, MD

Danielle Pipher Clement, M.Ed, MSN, AGNP, WHNP

Elizabeth Cohen, MBA

Jordan Jones

Sara Lewis, MA

Tricia Markoff, PhD

Programs

Long reads

About

Casa Materna

"Guatemala was an unexpectedly amazing trip. I was unprepared for the country’s beauty and the warmth of everyone we met. We formed friendships I never anticipated, and this experience has permanently changed me. I came hoping to learn about labor and delivery, especially in rural areas, and I was blown away by the wealth of information shared in such a short time. I have immense admiration for the nurses and staff at Casa Materna. Their ability to provide care without hospitals, monitors, or a full pharmacy speaks volumes about their skill. I loved witnessing their commitment to the community, making long treks to check on pre- and post-partum women. I am truly grateful for this life-changing experience and hope to return soon." Duke School of Nursing student Lynzee reflects on her time volunteering with Impact Global Health Alliance.

Impact Global Health Alliance’s programs always center informed consent and decision-making; we empower women to make the best choices for their own health and well-being. Women deserve to give birth on their own terms whenever possible. Casa Maternas not only provide high quality medical care, but also provide culturally sensitive services that help put many mothers at ease. This is particularly important in our rural service areas, which are highly populated by Indigenous Mayan populations who often face cultural, linguistic, and financial barriers when seeking medical care.

When Alejandra went into labor in one of the most remote villages of Huehuetenango, Guatemala, she had good reason to be afraid. Postpartum hemorrhage — severe bleeding after childbirth — remains the leading cause of maternal death in Guatemala, where maternal mortality rates were once among the highest in the world. Thankfully, Alejandra had options. She set out on foot through the night for the Impact Global Health Alliance’s Casa Materna. She chose it because she trusted the people inside. The staff speak her language. The rooms feel like a home, not a hospital. The care she receives is low cost and free of fear and anxiety which keeps so many Indigenous Mayan women from seeking medical help at all.

“Soon over a dozen kids filled the hilly terrain, transforming the Casa Materna into a playground. I had no idea what game we were playing, whose children I was playing with, or what anyone was saying. I lost track of time as we rolled down hills together, showed off our cartwheels, and as I became the source of countless piggy back rides. As I tentatively watched the sun creep behind the mountains, the kids seemed to know. As each of them wrapped their tiny arms around me, I felt my heart swell. The children of Calhuitz, their laughter, their hugs, and their screams will always stay with me.” Volunteer Merry reflects on her time volunteering with us in Calhuitz, Guatemala.

We are officially an awardee for Action for Women’s Health, a global open call funded by @pivotal_ventures and managed by @lever4change. This award reinforces the work we've been doing matters. The women we serve MATTER. Our approach we've refined over 43 years is rooted in trust, shaped by those who know this terrain best, and is worth backing. We cannot wait to move forward with more resources and renewed focus on the communities who've trusted us from the start. Read more: https://impactglobalhealthalliance.org/pivotal-investment-2025/ #BoldSolutionsForWomensHealth

Ready to make a difference? Find yourself in Guatemala this fall with the Impact Global Health Alliance - more info on our website.

Impact Global Health Alliance recognizes the important role that breastfeeding plays in childhood nutrition and development and maternal bonding. All of our programs include education on immediate and exclusive breastfeeding, including nutritional support for nursing mothers. Recent numbers from our program areas in Kenya show that, among our program participants, 💙 97% of breastfeeding mothers were still exclusively breastfeeding (EBF) at 3 months 💚 89% of women interviewed at their 6-month wellness visit reported that they practiced EBF during their first 6 months of motherhood 💙 97% of nursing mothers reported eating 2+ extra meals per day to support their own nutrition Pictured: In Guatemala, new mothers receive educational support during a Circle for Breastfeeding Mothers meeting. #WorldBreastfeedingWeek #SustainableStart

Summer is a great time for internships - a chance to put what you’re learning in the classroom into a real life context. This summer, we’re pleased to have three incredibly talented interns joining us to support our business development initiatives. Welcome Hannah, Vienna, and Tanushree!

They are the first person to learn of new pregnancies in the communities and are the person most trusted by their patients. Learn more about the role comadronas, or midwives, play in Guatemalan communities at the link in our bio.

A key feature of our educational programs is the Care Group. As one board member writes, “Being a teacher, what fascinated me most was observing a Care Group. The Care Group volunteer is elected by the women of 10-12 households that have a pregnant mother or a child under 2. These trained volunteers build relationships, and I believe it is the trust in these women, a peer, that allows community members to embrace new educational material.”

✨You’re invited ✨ Our annual benefit is September 17 in Raleigh, NC. Please join us for an evening of stories, connection, and reflection (and food!). Early-bird ticket sales end July 18 - link in our stories to purchase your ticket today!

Do you have dreams of a bountiful spring garden? So do women in Kisii County, Kenya - but instead of bright blooms, they’re growing vegetables to provide their children with extra nutrition. Learn more about the kitchen gardens sprouting up in our service communities: https://impactglobalhealthalliance.org/blooming-in-care/

A simple question, rigorously answered. Can a community-led approach to maternal and child health — built on a household census, peer-to-peer behavior change, and locally-owned maternity centers — actually move the needle on mortality, equity, and women’s empowerment in one of the most under-served regions of Latin America? And does the same model hold in rural sub-Saharan Africa? Learn the answer - link in bio to The Evidence.

“Spending a month in Kisii, Kenya, with the Kisii Konya Oroibo Project (KIKOP) was far more than a volunteer opportunity; it was the defining moment where I discovered my passion for public health.”

It's that time of year again - our Annual Benefit is next week! The Annual Benefit is an important event for Impact Global Health Alliance. It's a chance for our community members to connect, reflect, and get inspired for another year of working for healthy mamas and babies. We sincerely hope you'll join us this year. Tickets - including student rates - are available at the link in our bio.

"The work, model and shared vision for community health I witnessed in Bolivia in 1992 with Impact Global Health Alliance inspired me to change my professional course, pursue medical school and specialize in Family Medicine. It taught me that true health care must be accessible, equitable, and comprehensive, tailored to the unique needs of each community. Since then, that work has served as a guidepost for my career, hoping to expand more inclusive access to robust and high-quality primary care and building systems that empower individuals and communities to achieve better health." We're thrilled that Andrew Bazemore, MD, MPH, Senior Vice President, Policy & Research at The American Board of Family Medicine will be the keynote speaker at our annual benefit on September 17th. Please join us for an evening of learning, connection, and empowerment. Tickets are available now, link in bio!

What’s it like giving birth at one of our Casa Maternas? “Thanks to the support of the nurses, I felt calm, safe, and confident,” says María, a young first-time mother. “They also made sure the environment was peaceful and comfortable. They always respected my decisions, and that’s how my baby was born…Thanks to what the nurses taught me, my birth experience was beautiful.” Learn more about Maria’s story by visiting our website and reading “Our Stories”#HopeThroughHealth

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What’s it like giving birth at one of our Casa Maternas?