DALLAS – May 7, 2026 – The Dallas Foundation, the first community foundation in Texas, today announced a strategic $2 million investment to advance maternal healthcare and ensure every child in Dallas County has a strong early start from prenatal to age five. 

This investment is a direct expression of The Dallas Foundation’s Bold Steps, Bright Futures strategic plan, which identifies pediatric and maternal health as one of three cornerstone pillars, driving the organization’s commitment to building the conditions families need to thrive from the very start. The funding consists of two equal grants of $1 million each to the Child Poverty Action Lab (CPAL) and the Parkland Health Foundation. Each organization will receive $250,000 annually over the next four years to scale solutions and clinical care in underserved communities.  

Early childhood has been a defining pillar of The Dallas Foundation’s work for decades, rooted in a deep commitment that investing in children before kindergarten yields the greatest returns for individuals, families, and communities alike. In the last five years, that focus has translated into more than $3,500,000 to advance early childhood initiatives in Dallas. 

The region faces a clear maternal health crisis despite the area’s growth. Between 2013 and 2023, the infant mortality rate in Dallas County increased by more than 6 percent. Furthermore, severe obstetric complications (SOCs) currently occur in 4.42 percent of births across the county, with black and Hispanic women experiencing disproportionately higher rates of mortality and complications. These outcomes carry significant economic costs, impacting workforce productivity and the development of the next generation of workers. 

“For nearly 100 years, we have been dedicated to helping improve the Dallas community and ensuring that all children are set up to succeed from the start, ” said Julie Diaz, president and CEO at The Dallas Foundation. “As we prepare for our Centennial in 2029, this $2 million investment represents a commitment to moving beyond short-term fixes toward long-term change. By partnering with CPAL and Parkland Health, we are uniting clinical excellence with data-driven support to meet mothers where they are.” 

Child Poverty Action Lab

As the research and development partner, CPAL will utilize the $1 million grant to drive regional coordination and address drivers of maternal health disparities through several core initiatives, which include: 

• Trust Her: Expanding equitable access to contraceptive care across North Texas. 

• Maternal Health Accelerator: Leading a regional coalition to reduce severe complications through data-informed strategies. 

• TeamBirth Implementation: Advancing the regional rollout of the TeamBirth platform designed to improve care coordination and improve the birthing experience at more than two dozen hospitals across North Texas.  

“On behalf of our entire organization, I thank The Dallas Foundation for its confidence in our mission,” said Alan Cohen, Founder, President & CEO, for CPAL. “Continued support at this significant level will continue to improve maternal outcomes and early childhood development in the Dallas community.” 

Parkland Health Foundation

As the primary safety-net provider delivering nearly one-third of all babies born in Dallas County, the Parkland Health Foundation will utilize the $1 million grant to expand frontline medical and wraparound support. Goals for the next four years include: 

• Women and Infants Specialty Health (WISH): Providing prenatal, maternity and postpartum care in 10 primary clinics across the county and Parkland’s main campus. 

• Scaling eMCAP: Expanding the award-winning “extending Maternal Care After Pregnancy” (eMCAP) program, which provides postpartum nurse home visits to every ZIP code in Dallas County. 

• Wraparound Services: Increasing access to mental health support, doula programs, and essential medical resources like blood pressure cuffs and iron supplements to prevent complications before they escalate. 

“We are grateful for The Dallas Foundation’s investment which reflects the power of partnership in addressing complex health challenges,” said Michael Horne, EdD, MPP, President and CEO of Parkland Health Foundation. “With this support, Parkland Health is expanding access to high‑quality care and strengthening wraparound supports that address health disparities and underlying barriers, leading to safer pregnancies, healthier births, and stronger, thriving communities across Dallas County.”