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2025 Impact Report

Supporting Moms and Babies

We’re working to improve maternal and infant health outcomes by increasing access to care, reducing care gaps and educating and engaging communities.

A mother in an orange shirt lays with her newborn baby
 
A woman in hospital gown cradles her newborn baby


Special Beginnings®

In 2025 we celebrated the anniversary of our expanded Special Beginnings maternal and infant health initiative. Through Special Beginnings, we’re collaborating with community, clinical and academic partners to support women and families from preconception to postpartum care.

  • Increasing access to care, before and after childbirth.
  • Promoting quality care.
  • Addressing social drivers that play a role in maternal and infant health.
  • Supporting efforts to expand the maternal health care workforce.
 
8

partner organizations

9K+

people served

6K+

services provided

 

Marking One Year of Impact

In 2025, we celebrated measurable outcomes achieved with our clinical, community and academic partners in our expanded Special Beginnings maternal and infant health initiative.

Fifty-seven healthy babies were born through program partners, and more than 9,000 people received services in the initiative's first full year.

Several efforts funded through Special Beginnings helped bolster the maternal health care workforce, including training of obstetricians, nurse practitioners and doulas, preparing New Mexico to expand access to vital support and services during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.

At the Blue Door Neighborhood CenterSM in Albuquerque’s South Valley, we provided access to lactation support groups and other resources for new and expecting parents in the community. 

A woman uses a doll to demonstrate CPR to a room of women
 
A native woman puts a blood pressure cuff onto the arm of a pregnant woman

More Progress to Be Made

A second round of Special Beginnings funding awarded in 2025 is supporting eight community, clinical and academic partners that are expanding access to quality maternal and infant health care, reducing health disparities and addressing social factors that influence a mother and baby’s well-being.

The initiative continues to prioritize health equity, quality improvement in birthing locations and expansion of the maternal health care workforce to reduce perinatal disparities.

This includes specialized training for clinicians providing perinatal mental health, data-driven quality improvement tools for New Mexico birthing hospitals, culturally centered care for Indigenous families and access to perinatal services in rural and remote areas with telemedicine.

“By investing in these programs, we are working together to create healthier beginnings and brighter futures for moms and babies statewide,” said Dr. Latha Raja Shankar, BCBSNM’s vice president of health care delivery and chief medical officer.

 
 

Spotlight

Offering Culturally Integrated Care

Special Beginnings community partner Changing Woman Initiative provides culturally integrated health care tailored to the needs of Indigenous families.

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