Talia Smith Legacy of Life Fund
Closing the Maternal Healthcare Gap
Giving the Power of Choice
Our fund is dedicated to the legacy of Talia Smith, Tonya’s granddaughter, who died during birth. The fund is designed to empower and protect historically under-resourced Black and Brown mothers to ensure safer birth outcomes. This program serves as a lifeline for expectant mothers, offering quality midwifery care to women who are low-income, specifically supporting those most impacted by birth disparities.
In Ohio, the infant mortality rate rose to 7.0 per 1,000 live births in 2021 (14.2 for Black infants), while the maternal mortality rate is 32.9 per 100,000 live births. These rates are disproportionately higher among people of color, with Black and African American mothers experiencing 5 times higher risk compared to their white counterparts. As more than 50% of our recipients come from historically underserved backgrounds, the Safer Birth Foundation’s Talia Smith Fund centers equity, closing the maternal health care gap.
Birth Justice Equity Fund
At the Safer Birth Foundation, we believe every mother deserves a safe arrival. Our birth justice fund specifically supports those most affected by the maternal mortality crisis in our community.
In 2023, the Safer Birth Foundation’s Talia Smith Fund offered direct care to 15 expectant low income mothers through the Boots on the Ground Grant received from the City of Cincinnati. Because Medicaid doesn’t cover the costs of midwifery care in Ohio, the Safer Birth Foundation was able to raise over $39,000 to cover the cost of these individual’s midwifery care. In 2024 Safer Birth Foundation was able to offer direct care to 11 individuals and in 2025 we were able to work with 6 women. The Program enables pregnant women to receive quality midwifery care at very low to no cost ($500-$3000 is the typical sliding scale, based on their application). Midwifery care is data driven and associated with better outcomes and more personalized support.
Impact Birth Outcomes. Join us Now!
When you give a monthly gift, you become a member of our Seed Circle and receive handmade items from our Community Cut Flower and Maternal Herb Garden.
Each donor receives:
$1- 25.00 - Seed Packet
$ 25-50 - Seed Packet and Herbal Tea
$50+ - Seed Packet, Herbal tea, and Herb Salt
$100+ - Seed Packet and Luxury in House Herbal Bundle (Herb Salt/Herbal Oil/Tea/Herbal Smudge Stick)
1000+ - Seed Packet / Herbal Salt/Herbal Smudge Stick/Herbal Tea/Pelvic Steam/Herbal Oils package (Belly Oil, Breast Oil, Baby Oil and Massage Oil)
Ongoing Impact
Safer Birth Foundation outcomes for the past seven years have been equal to other accessible midwifery care practices such as Jennie Joseph’s Commonsense Midwifery Easy Access Clinic. Our cesarean rate for the past 7 years has been less than 6% and our preterm birth rate for our program participants has been zero. Participants have reported high rates of satisfaction with care and high breastfeeding rates at 6 weeks postpartum.
We foster a supportive environment for breastfeeding, promoting maternal and infant health. Through participation in the American Association of Birth Centers Perinatal Data Registry, SBF seeks to contribute valuable data to ongoing research efforts in maternal healthcare.
Midwives Access Program
Self-pay Cost
Basic Hospital Delivery Package: ———- $1600
(Includes: 12 office visits, basic labs*, hospital delivery, postpartum exam)
Pregnancy test, urine: —————————— $10
Pregnancy test, blood: —————————-$40
New Patient OB visit: —————————— $150
Prenatal Care Visit: ———————————- $75
Postpartum Care Visit: —————————- $75
Some labwork is additional
STD/STI Labwork/urine tests: ———— price varies per lab
Letters/forms: —————————————- up to $75