By Germaine Smith-Baugh, Ed.D.
The numbers tell a grim story.
In 2024, 11% of babies delivered in Broward were born preterm, exceeding state and national averages. In 2025, our severe maternal morbidity rate peaked at 12%, nearly doubling over the last decade and surpassing two-thirds of Florida. Meanwhile, C-section rates remain among the highest statewide.
The data speaks to the maternal health challenges that remain 13 years after the Urban League of Broward County published “The State of Black Broward Health,” which detailed stark health disparities facing our neighbors. The report served as a call to action. Over the past decade, that research has guided our approach to addressing chronic illness, comorbidities, and maternal health across South Florida.
The statistics above stand for real families and preventable crises. They compel us to move beyond clinical walls into neighborhoods that need the most support.
To that end, Sunshine Health—one of the state’s largest Medicaid providers—and the Urban League of Broward County continue our long-standing partnership to drive community health initiatives. In alignment with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration’s From the Start campaign, Sunshine Health is launching From the Start Broward aimed at improving birth outcomes by engaging mothers in prenatal care earlier, connecting them with doulas, and addressing full-spectrum needs, from mental wellness to socioeconomic barriers.
The program pairs Sunshine Health’s Mobile Clinic with established community services, such as ULBC’s Broward Healthy Start Project (Together our Tots Thrive & Survive) TOTTS and Community Doula Support Program, creating an accessible, community-centered path to care that has served more than 4,000 families over the past two years. Over the next 12 months, Sunshine Health’s mobile unit will anchor four maternal health fairs across Broward County. Its team will oversee event coordination, appointment scheduling, and care management handoffs, while ULBC delivers prenatal education, home visits, and childbirth support. Together, we are launching joint awareness campaigns, social media outreach, and community listening sessions to ensure every expectant mother knows where to find help.
Transforming health outcomes requires sustained investment in the whole person and whole community. Improving maternal and infant health in Broward is a shared responsibility. We invite local leaders, healthcare providers, and community members to join us in amplifying these resources and advocating for equitable care.
The Baughtom Line: By prioritizing early access, building community trust, and supporting mothers from the start, we can ensure every family in Broward County has the foundation to thrive, strengthen generational well-being, and move closer to a future where healthy births and healthy communities are the shared standard.
