Serving the Amish and Mennonite Communities
In rural southeastern Ohio, members of the Plain Communities (Amish and Mennonite) face barriers to prenatal, peri- and post-partum care. Transportation challenges, cost concerns, insurance limitations, and cultural considerations often significantly inhibit access to high quality care.
Through collaboration with the Rio Care Birthing Center, BEA Society is helping support:
- Expanded access to prenatal visits
- Safe, culturally respectful birthing services
- Education on maternal and newborn health
- Referral pathways when higher levels of care are needed
The Rio Care Birthing Center provides a trusted setting where women can receive care that respects their cultural values while improving safety outcomes. Centered in the heart of the surrounding Amish and Mennonite communities in Southeast Ohio, this birth center facility was established in 2018 to address an unmet need for prenatal, labor and delivery, and post-partum care for families in the area. Their motto is “Making a difference one baby at a time!”
Improving prenatal access reduces preventable complications, supports healthy newborns, and strengthens trust in the community to seek care. By strengthening infrastructure and community partnerships, this collaboration helps ensure that expectant mothers can deliver with supervision by health care providers in a comfortable and secure setting.