This three-year initiative will expand access to maternal, child and behavioral health services in rural Alabama through a nurse-led Mobile Health Unit. Targeting underserved women and children, the project leverages existing resources at UAB—such as the All of Us Mobile Health Unit and the Nurse-Family Partnership of Greater Alabama—to deliver team-based, community-centered care.
The effort responds to urgent health disparities: rural Alabamians face higher rates of chronic disease, maternal smoking, hypertension and infant mortality—particularly in counties like Perry, Wilcox, Monroe and Calhoun. Racial and ethnic minorities in these areas experience even worse outcomes.
Key Goals:
- Deliver nurse-led mobile maternal and behavioral health services in high-need rural counties.
- Train and expand the nursing workforce through hands-on, culturally responsive education.
- Build a sustainable model to keep mobile services running long-term.
The Mobile Health Unit will serve 16 Alabama counties, starting with 4 counties and expanding annually. By addressing both clinical needs and workforce gaps, this project aims to improve health equity across Alabama’s most vulnerable rural communities.