Abide Women's Health Services

"Given the remarkable advancements we have made across nearly every aspect of health care in the last quarter century, it is shocking that women in the U.S. are more likely to suffer a pregnancy-related death today than in the 1990s.
The danger is even greater for women of color."
- Dr. Susan R. Bailey, MD
Former President, American Medical Association

We opened our Easy Access™ Clinic in October of 2021 in South Dallas, a community where the pervasive disease of systemic racism has resulted in:

• The highest number of people living 185% below the poverty line of any city in America
• 48% of single mothers living in poverty 38% of children living in poverty, with 28% lacking adequate food and nutrition
• 27,000+ residents living in poverty despite being employed full-time

In our community, an average of 7 out of every 1000 live births ends in death. The causes are complex but range from various factors, including low birth weight, maternal complications, SIDS, and lack of adequate prenatal care. 

But it doesn't stop there. 

Abide has had zero reported infant and maternal deaths and our pre-term birth rates are half the national average. We have awarded over $15k in scholarships to 10 student midwives and in collaboration with our community partner Delighted to Doula, granted eight scholarships towards postpartum doulas in the south Dallas area. We can't share the disparities without acknowledging the impact of our work and how ultimately we are SAVING LIVES.

Maternal justice pioneer Jennie Joseph, the founder of Commonsense Childbirth, birthed the concept of our Easy Access™ Clinic. She created "The JJ Way®," a system that believes that all people deserve a healthy pregnancy, birth, and baby so no one is ever turned away — regardless of ability to pay.  At Abide, we have made strides in providing excellent life-saving care that centers BIPOC folk and their families.

Because of the generosity of individual donors, foundations, and other entities, we can provide holistic, equitable, judgment-free care at a low-cost to our community. Although Abide, as an organization, is still relatively new, we have already gained massive traction in our community. Our clinic was highlighted in a segment of ABC Nightline, where we receive national recognition for our work.

Clients can receive a variety of services from our team of Black-licensed medical providers including:

• Pregnancy testing and confirmation of pregnancy
• Glucose testing to manage gestational diabetes
• Doppler and 4k ultrasound services
• Urinalysis and urine screenings
• 36 week OB panel
• And more

A look at the future Abide Birth and Collective Care suite interior. Rendering by: Bryana Guy, Inside In Mind Interiors and Payal Bansal of Payal Bansal Design LLC

A fundamental tenet of our organization is that our providers look like the people we service, which is why we prioritize working with BIPOC providers. This is rooted in the research that demonstrates Black babies have a 50% increased chance of survival when their provider is also Black. Our efforts are sustained through a variety of channels, including multi-year funding partnerships with foundations, individual donors, and our major funding campaigns, which includes North Texas Giving Day.

Abide Women's Health Services Mobile Clinic: Photo credit: Melissa Moreira
311 Creative Company

In an effort to expand our impact, and offer compassionate, culturally competent maternal health care outside of the walls of our Easy Access Clinic we excited to hit hit the streets of Dallas and Tarrant Counties in our new mobile clinic. Our efforts are sustained through a variety of channels, including multi-year funding partnerships with foundations, individual donors, and our major funding campaigns, which include North Texas Giving Day. 

Learn more about our mission, programs, and impact by visiting www.abidewomen.org