BACKGROUND:
Maternal health inequities begin well before pregnancy, with Black women in the Southeastern United States disproportionately affected by chronic disease, limited access to preventive services, and structural racism that undermines trust in health systems. These preconception disparities shape later maternal outcomes and mirror the experiences of marginalized populations globally. Addressing maternal health inequity therefore requires upstream, culturally grounded approaches that engage women before conception and within their communities. Project IMPACT is a community-based maternal health equity initiative that provides culturally responsive preconception education and health interventions tailored to Black women in the U.S. Southeast. By meeting women where they are, through partnerships with trusted organizations, community sites, and local implementers; the program delivers accessible, relatable, and actionable information that supports reproductive well-being across the life course.

METHODS:
The intervention employs a co-designed implementation model that includes training community implementers in delivering health education, performing small-group and one-on-one preconception health sessions within accessible community settings, and using iterative participant feedback to refine content and delivery. The data collected focuses on engagement, acceptability, content relevance, and participant-reported changes in knowledge and confidence navigating preconception health.

RESULTS:
Early findings show high program acceptability, strong engagement, and increased understanding of preconception risk factors, health system navigation, and strategies for managing chronic conditions prior to pregnancy. Implementers report enhanced capacity to deliver culturally congruent health education, and participants highlight the value of receiving information in trusted, community-centered spaces.

CONCLUSIONS:
Project IMPACT’s flexible, community-rooted model, grounded in cultural responsiveness, localized partnerships, and meeting women where they are, offers a scalable framework adaptable to diverse global settings. Culturally responsive preconception interventions such as Project IMPACT can advance maternal health equity by addressing disparities early in the life course. The model provides transferable strategies for global adaptation in contexts facing similar challenges.