Maternal and Child Wellness

Community Well-being and Justice
  • 50%
    Black women supported by a local community doula program are half as likely to experience preterm births compared to the state average.
  • 67%
    decrease in teen births since GKFF-supported programs began working in maternal child health in 2009.
  • 35K+
    people receive support through health education and maternal-child wellness programs annually.

A strong start in life

The best way for young children to have a level playing field is through a strong and healthy beginning in life.

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Removing obstacles to receiving care

Economic hurdles and systemic barriers often make it harder for many to access the care they need. Because both a mother’s and a baby’s health are deeply interconnected, we focus on initiatives that support the well-being of mothers and their newborns from the start.

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Our approach

Community-based programs offer Tulsans essential resources and services to support healthy pregnancies and give families the best possible beginning.

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What we support

Our investments in maternal and child wellness aim to:‍

Children bear no responsibility for the circumstance of their birth and are often the most impacted by poor health outcomes in their families, limiting their opportunity to escape from intergenerational poverty. That is morally offensive.”
George B. Kaiser
Founder of GKFF

Programs we support

Creating opportunities for Tulsa families to thrive.
Amplify Youth Health Collective
Amplify Youth Health Collective works to improve adolescent health by expanding access to evidence-based sex education, promoting healthy relationships and engaging the community. They unite local organizations to reduce Oklahoma's teen birth rate through education and resources.
Strong Tomorrows
Strong Tomorrows supports expectant and parenting students in Tulsa by providing by providing case management and resources to help balance school, childcare, and parental responsibilities. They offer pathways to graduation, childcare, college and career readiness, and health care.
Take Control Initiative
Since 2010, Take Control Initiative has worked to remove barriers and increase access to birth control in Tulsa County by providing free contraception, transportation, educational workshops and medical training.
Oklahoma Birth Equity Initiative
The Oklahoma Birth Equity Initiative (OKBEI) addresses maternal health disparities by offering programs like community-based doulas and Queens Village. Since 2019, OKBEI has fostered equitable, healthy outcomes for parents and babies.

Our Team

Kimberly Butler
Senior Program Officer
Bio

Kimberly Butler

Senior Program Officer

Kimberly Butler is a senior program officer at GKFF who focuses on maternal child health initiatives. Prior to joining GKFF, Butler was a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala working with women and children on issues of health and nutrition. Following the Peace Corps, she worked with women and children at Rosie's Place in Boston. Butler graduated from Wellesley College in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts and completed her master’s degree in public health at the University of Oklahoma in 2009.

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    Recent stories & news

    Oklahoma Birth Equity Initiative is Reducing Maternal Health Disparities
    In partnership with GKFF, OKBEI and its Community Doula Program ensure families receive support from early pregnancy through the months following childbirth.