A healthy start

Matt Jacobs, director of transportation for Catholic Charities Fort Worth, delivers boxes of iron supplements to more than 40 clinics, hospitals, and pregnancy centers in Tarrant County. (NTC/Richard Rodriguez)

Catholic Charities Fort Worth has provided low-cost transportation to Tarrant County seniors and disabled residents for more than a decade. In April, the transportation department began ferrying more than just people throughout Tarrant County — they now transport iron supplements as part of the North Texas Maternal Health Accelerator project. 

Iron supplements have been shown to be an effective means of improving the health of pregnant women and their babies.

The goal of the Accelerator project is to lower maternal morbidity rates by 20% in the next three years. Spearheaded by Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, the program includes three philanthropic organizations: Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at Texas Christian University, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and Child Poverty Action Lab. 

For CCFW Director of Transportation Matt Jacobs, distributing the iron supplements “fits right into what we do.” 

Jacobs said he is highly committed to the project and personally delivers the supplements to participant agencies so as not to disrupt his drivers’ scheduled routes or make a client wait on a later delivery time. 

So far, CCFW has made more than 85 deliveries of iron supplements to 43 clinics, hospitals, and pregnancy centers in Tarrant County.

Also, CCFW distributes the iron supplements to clients through Gabriel Project. Managed by Connie Beck, Gabriel Project is a mainstay of CCFW’s efforts to provide resources and support for pregnant women until their child reaches one year old. The holistic nature of programs like Gabriel Project adds structure, tracking of outcomes, and education to the iron supplement distribution.

“The purpose of the Accelerator is to bring down barriers that cause severe obstetric complications in women so they have healthier outcomes for moms and babies at delivery,” Beck said. 

In addition to the iron supplements, Gabriel Project provides moms-to-be with everything from practical items such as car seats, diapers, and baby wipes to emotional support provided by trained volunteers known as Angels. 

One such volunteer is April Martin, a veteran Angel of five years, who became involved after getting married and becoming a mother at the age of 17. 

“I just recall not knowing anything about caring for myself, caring for my child, what to expect, what my body would be doing, different emotions,” Martin said. “When I first became aware of this program, I said, ‘This is wonderful.’”

While case managers deliver iron supplements to Gabriel Project participants, Martin is knowledgeable about the complications that can arise from low iron levels in expectant women. “Iron deficiency, especially when it gets to the anemic level, can have effects on the mom and the growing baby,” she said. “I think it’s a great program.”

Volunteer, contribute to, or learn more about Catholic Charities Fort Worth by visiting CatholicCharitiesFortWorth.org.