MACOMB, Ill. – McDonough District Hospital received notification that its grant application through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (MOMS) program was accepted.
This prestigious grant received by the MDH Obstetrics department, the first one ever received of this kind, will cover four years and accounts for nearly $4 million total.
MDH is the only hospital in the state of Illinois and one of a few hospitals in the Midwest to receive HRSA’s highly competitive national grant.
“This is truly a surreal moment. This achievement is a testament to our team's dedication and vision to improving maternal and infant health in our communities. This is more than a grant, it is an investment in rural healthcare and in the families and communities we are privileged to serve,” said MDH Interim Chief Nursing Officer Melissa Onion, RN, BSN, CLC. “This award reflects the dedication of the hospital’s healthcare professionals, community partners, and stakeholders who share a common vision of ensuring that every mother, regardless of where she lives, has access to safe, timely, and high-quality maternity care. We are deeply grateful to HRSA for this significant investment in our communities and look forward to working together to create lasting improvements in maternal and infant health across our rural region.”
MDH first applied for the grant in Spring 2025, and on the initial application received a perfect evaluation score. However, funding was not available at that time. It is anticipated that grant funding will begin this fall.
Members of the grant team included: Dr. Tamara Smith, Melissa Onion, Kim Thorman, Sherri Hitchcock, Lindsay Douglas, and American Hospital Association staff members Ben Wise, Dan Weiss, and Bethany Lee.
“We are extremely proud of our team’s accomplishment in securing this grant. It was a complete team effort. A lot of hard work and research went into this proposal, and our entire organization extends a congratulations to our MDH staff, American Hospital Association staff, community leaders, and supporters who helped make this grant happen,” said MDH Interim Chief Executive Officer Wanda Foster, RN, MSN. “This grant provides an opportunity for our Obstetrics department to expand on the incredible work they do for families in our region.”
The HRSA RMOMS Program is designed to strengthen rural maternity care systems by improving access to prenatal, labor and delivery, postpartum, and newborn care while fostering collaboration among hospitals, healthcare providers, community organizations, and public health partners.
Through this grant, MDH will work alongside our regional partners to:
- Improve access to comprehensive maternity care for rural families.
- Strengthen care coordination throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.
- Expand collaboration among healthcare providers, hospitals, EMS, and community organizations.
- Address disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes.
- Support innovative, evidence-based approaches that improve the health and well-being of mothers and babies.
“The greatest investment in healthcare isn't a building or grant, it's a community that believes in its families. I've been fortunate to witness that for the past 14 years, from the community-funded Dolores Kator Switzer Women's Center to this HRSA Rural MOMS grant. I'm proud of our team, grateful for this community, and honored to walk this journey together,” said MDH OBGYN’s Dr. Tamara Smith.
Additional information about program activities and partnership opportunities will be shared as implementation begins.
Pictured are (L-R): Dan Weiss, AHA; Dr. Tamara Smith; Bethany Lee, AHA; Melissa Onion
