News

Aldea Health Launches Perinatal Support Pilot with Southside Community Health Services to Strengthen Care for Medicaid‑Covered Birthing People in the Twin Cities

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TWIN CITIES, MN – May 18, 2024 – Aldea Health LLC today announced the launch of a new perinatal support pilot with Southside Community Health Services (“Southside”) to expand community‑based support for Medicaid‑covered birthing people in high‑need communities across the Twin Cities metro area.

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Through this pilot, Aldea will partner with Southside’s maternal health unit to provide a “village” of non‑clinical support alongside the clinic’s existing medical care. The program will initially serve an estimated 50–100 birthing families and is designed to close equity gaps in maternal health outcomes, improve access to doula care, and identify emerging health and social needs earlier.

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In Minnesota and across the country, Medicaid‑covered birthing people and communities of color continue to experience higher rates of severe maternal morbidity and mortality than their white, privately insured peers. Many of these risks are driven not only by clinical factors, but also by social, emotional, and logistical barriers during pregnancy and the first year postpartum.

The Aldea–Southside pilot is designed to help address those gaps by more tightly linking clinic‑based care with trusted community supports.

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“Southside has been doing extraordinary work for birthing people in high‑need communities for decades,” said Aliza Bach, Founder and CEO of Aldea Health and a certified doula. “Our goal is to extend that work beyond the walls of the clinic by building a village around each family—connecting the medical team’s expertise with the deep knowledge, trust, and connection that already exist in the community.”

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Under the partnership, eligible Southside patients with Medical Assistance will be offered enrollment in Aldea’s perinatal support program. Once enrolled, families are connected to:

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Doras – trained community volunteers who provide ongoing check‑ins, help navigate resources, and surface early concerns

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Community doulas – culturally rooted birth and postpartum support before, during, and after delivery

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Care coordination – nurse‑led and social work support to identify red‑flag symptoms, mental health needs, and social determinants of health earlier and coordinate with Southside’s care team

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Aldea’s team will remain engaged with enrolled families through pregnancy and up to 12 months postpartum, offering regular outreach by phone, text, and in‑person connections along with proprietary educational resources like The Aldea Companion booklet to serve as a guide through the perinatal period. Southside’s maternal health team—including midwives, nurses, care coordinators, social work, and mental health support—will continue as the medical home and provider of record, with Aldea serving as an extension of the care team in the community.

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​“Our patients are balancing so much more than what we can see in a 20‑minute visit,” said Sheila Kennedy, DNP, MPH, APRN, CNM, Medical Director of Southside Community Health Services and Director of the Maternal Health Service Line. “Partnering with Aldea allows us to link what happens in the exam room with the lived realities in our patients’ homes and neighborhoods. By connecting our clinical team with trusted Doras and doulas in the community, we have a better chance of catching problems earlier and making sure families feel truly supported.”

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The pilot at Southside is the first implementation of Aldea’s perinatal support model and is intended to inform future expansion with additional FQHCs and Medicaid plans across the region.

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“Empowering mothers, strengthening communities, ensuring quality care is the standard we’re working toward with partners like Southside,” Bach added. “We’re excited to learn together and to share what works with other clinics and plans who are serious about community‑rooted maternal health.”

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About Aldea Health

 

Aldea Health LLC is a Twin Cities–based company that partners with safety‑net providers and Medicaid plans to build “villages of support” around Medicaid‑covered birthing people. By connecting community‑based Doras, doulas, and nurse‑led care coordination with existing clinical teams, Aldea helps surface risk earlier, expand access to trusted support, and close equity gaps in perinatal outcomes.

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Learn more at www.aldeahealth.com.

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About Southside Community Health Services

 

Southside Community Health Services is a Federally Qualified Health Center providing comprehensive, culturally responsive care to patients in the Twin Cities. Southside’s maternal health service line offers obstetric, midwifery, nursing, behavioral health, and social work services, with a focus on meeting the needs of high‑need and historically underserved communities.

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Media & Partnership Inquiries

 

For interviews or partnership inquiries, please contact:

Media / Partnerships:
info@aldeahealth.com

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Direct contact:
Aliza Bach
Founder & CEO, Aldea Health LLC
aliza@aldeahealth.com
1‑833‑51ALDEA (1‑833‑512‑5332)
www.aldeahealth.com