DHS and HOPE for Georgia Moms Will Sponsor “Bump & Beyond Maternal Health Fair” on March 3 at Albany Civic Center with Co-Host SOWEGA Rising

The free event is especially for families with Medicaid/PeachCare for Kids® and those who may have questions about their health coverage. Information, giveaways, raffle prizes, and resources will be available from community partners.

Albany, GA – Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) and HOPE for Georgia Moms will sponsor the “Bump & Beyond Maternal Health Fair” with local co-host SOWEGA Rising at the Albany Civic Center on Sunday, March 3, 2024, from 2-5 p.m. The event and Civic Center parking are free.

Expectant and recently-delivered mothers and their families should bring their Medicaid/PeachCare for Kids® paperwork with them to the event to get help with their eligibility checks. In addition, the fair is the perfect place for families to spend an afternoon taking advantage of free health services, fun activities, self-care, childcare samples, and giveaways, including:

• Free community-based services like mobile primary health care and dental clinics
• Important health information from experts on pregnancy and postpartum concerns
• Samples of products like diapers, wipes, formula, and more
• Opportunities to connect with other parents to share experiences and advice
• Door prizes for maternity and newborn care and much more

In Georgia, approximately 56% of births are covered by Medicaid, and many mothers delivered their babies during the pandemic when annual eligibility checks were paused for three years. The fair is intended to help increase awareness about and provide help for families now that the federal government has required states to resume Medicaid/PeachCare for Kids® eligibility checks (a process called “redetermination”). These activities are an extension of DHS’ “Stay Informed. Stay Covered.” statewide public information campaign to engage and educate Medicaid/PeachCare for Kids® members about redetermination more broadly.

The Albany “Bump & Beyond” event is the first of three maternal health fairs planned in Georgia this spring. A second event will be held in Savannah on March 9.

The fairs are made possible through funding from HOPE for Georgia Moms, a Northeast Georgia Health System initiative funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). HOPE seeks to connect resources and be action-oriented so that all moms thrive in Georgia. The partnership with DHS is the latest example of the “Stay Covered” campaign’s dedication to emphasizing local solutions, local outreach, and local impact.

“We are excited to partner with DHS and SOWEGA Rising on Albany’s Bump & Beyond Maternal Health Fair because we know pregnant and postpartum women so rarely put themselves first when it comes to their health,” said Heidi Ehrenreich, Project Director of HOPE for Georgia Moms. “The Bump & Beyond event is an opportunity to lift up and encourage mothers who have Medicaid or need Medicaid; to offer them support and information so they can stay informed and stay in control of their health care coverage.”

DHS and HOPE are working with southwest Georgia co-host SOWEGA Rising on the event. SOWEGA Rising is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to mobilize people and resources to improve the well-being and quality of life of those who call southwest Georgia home.

“Our goal is to empower every Georgian to take charge of their health while connecting them with available resources,” said Alysia Cutting, Rural Health Equity Director, SOWEGA Rising. “We’re excited to share critical information, expert advice, and more for moms at this important event.”

The fun, free event will offer dozens of vendors, services, and experts for the whole family.

Event information:

Albany Bump & Beyond Maternal Health Fair at Albany Civic Center
Sunday, March 3, 2024, 2-5 p.m.
100 W. Oglethorpe Blvd.
Albany, GA 31701

Background on Medicaid/PeachCare for Kids® Redetermination

The Medicaid redetermination process is the result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, which requires all states to resume annual Medicaid eligibility checks after a three-year pause during the pandemic. States were required to begin these “redeterminations” by April 2023 and finish the process by May 2024, reporting on their progress monthly to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Georgia Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids® members can update their contact information through one of three ways:

1. Online at Georgia DHS’ benefits website
2. In person at their local DFCS office: dfcs.georgia.gov/locations
3. By phone at 1-877-GA-DHS-GO or 711 for the hearing impaired

To learn more about Medicaid redetermination, visit staycovered.ga.gov.

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This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $5,170,233 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. government. For more information, please visit hrsa.gov.