HR1728: HR1728 Haven House; critical service to pregnant women and young mothers in the State of Georgia; recognize

26 LC 129 1400 House Resolution 1728 By: Representatives Cannon of the 58 th, Hugley of the 141 st, Efstration of the 104 th, Donatucci of the 105th, Park of the 107th, and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing Haven House for its critical service to pregnant women and young mothers in1 the State of Georgia; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, access to safe housing, nutritious food, prenatal care, and a stable, supportive3 environment are widely recognized by public health experts as essential factors for healthy4 pregnancy outcomes and maternal survival; and5 WHEREAS, extensive research demonstrates that housing instabili ty during pregnancy is6 associated with significantly higher rates of preterm birth, lo w birth weight, neonatal7 intensive care unit admission, and delivery complications; and8 WHEREAS, access to healthy food and basic necessities during pr egnancy is a critical9 determinant of maternal and infant health, and federal nutrition programs such as the Special10 Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children ( W I C ) a n d t h e11 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) play an important role in reducing food12 insecurity and improving health outcomes for mothers and infants; and13 H. R. 1728 - 1 - 26 LC 129 1400 WHEREAS, access to health coverage through Georgia Medicaid ensures pregnant women14 receive essential prenatal care, screenings, and treatment that can prevent complications and15 support healthy births; and16 WHEREAS, Haven House, a maternity supportive housing residence serving women across17 Georgia, works directly with residents to ensure they receive c ritical public benefits, with18 100 percent of both current and former residents successfully enrolled in Family Medicaid,19 WIC, and SNAP, and staff actively assisting residents with applications for the Childcare and20 Parent Services Program (CAPS) to support long-term stability and workforce participation;21 and22 WHEREAS, Haven House serves a uniquely vulnerable population, w ith 90 percent of23 residents having previously experienced foster care, approximately 80 percent having aged24 out of the foster care system, and 90 percent of residents having survived human trafficking,25 making the availability of safe, trauma-informed housing especially vital; and26 WHEREAS, Haven House is among the only maternity supportive hou sing residences in27 Georgia willing to accept women facing complex or urgent circumstances, including women28 in their third trimester, women experiencing pregnancy complications, women with learning29 disabilities or special needs, women who may not yet have stabl e transportation or30 employment, and women who have not previously been enrolled in Medicaid prior to31 entering the program; and32 WHEREAS, maternal health data shows that the percentage of births with late or no prenatal33 care increased nationally from 6.3 percent in 2021 to 7.3 perce nt in 2024, while Georgia34 experienced a significantly higher rise from 7.9 percent to 11. 4 percent, underscoring the35 need for community-based solutions that ensure early and consistent care; and36 H. R. 1728 - 2 - 26 LC 129 1400 WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Georgia Maternal Mortality37 Review Committee report that maternal deaths in Georgia continue to rise and that 87 percent38 of pregnancy-related deaths in the state are considered prevent able, often linked to social39 factors such as housing instability, food insecurity, delayed medical care, and chronic stress;40 and41 WHEREAS, Haven House utilizes the evidence-based Trust-Based Relational Intervention42 (TBRI) model to provide trauma-informed care, with two certifie d TBRI practitioners on43 staff, including a Licensed Master Social Worker who provides i n-house counseling and44 skill-building support for residents; and45 WHEREAS, organizations such as Haven House address these critical social determinants46 of health by providing safe housing, access to nutritious food, trauma-informed care, and47 assistance navigating essential public programs that improve ma ternal and infant health48 outcomes.49 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that50 the members of this body recognize and commend Haven House for its extraordinary service51 to pregnant women and young mothers in Georgia and for its comm itment to improving52 maternal and infant health outcomes through compassionate care, stable housing, and53 connection to vital public resources.54 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized55 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution ava ilable for distribution to56 Haven House.57 H. R. 1728 - 3 -