Columbia, SC – August 5, 2025 – Health Evolve Technologies is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Community Initiatives, Inc. to advance maternal health outcomes across seven rural counties in South Carolina. These counties include Greenwood, Abbeville, Laurens, Saluda, Edgefield, McCormick, and Newberry.

The work began with the innovative regional efforts of community partners – Community Initiatives, Inc. and Self Regional Healthcare.  This led to the creation of the Lakelands Maternal Health Collaborative and introduced a three-year partnership with Health Evolve Technologies beginning June 1, 2025. During this time, Lauren^Ò, Health Evolve’s evidence-informed remote monitoring and educational platform, will be deployed to support birthing people from pregnancy through postpartum recovery.

Through this partnership, Health Evolve’s chronic care management solution will focus on key indicators such as blood pressure control, blood glucose regulation, stress reduction, and social determinants impacting maternal health. Central to this initiative is Lauren’s 100‑week chronic care curriculum, delivering personalized, tech‑enabled education and care navigation from pregnancy through the first postpartum year.

“For far too long, rural communities have faced unacceptable disparities in maternal health outcomes. At Community Initiatives, we believe that advancing maternal health in rural South Carolina requires bold partnerships and culturally responsive solutions. This collaboration with Health Evolve Technologies brings critical innovation and capacity to our work through the Lakeland Maternal Health Collaborative. By integrating trusted community care with digital tools like Lauren, we’re creating a model of maternal care that is proactive, accessible, and rooted in the lived realities of the families we serve” shares Teresa S. Goodman, Executive Director of Community Initiatives, Inc.

“We are honored to work alongside the Lakeland Maternal Health Collaborative to bring digital innovation and human‑centered care to underserved communities,” said Kimberly Smith, Founder and CEO of Health Evolve Technologies. “This partnership is a model for how technology, community trust, and strategic funding can converge to save lives and improve outcomes for birthing people in rural areas.”

This collaborative effort is made possible through the generous support of Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of South Carolina* and significant in-kind contributions from local organizations.

About Health Evolve Technologies
Health Evolve Technologies is a digital health company advancing equitable maternal and chronic care through its platform, Lauren. Designed for use by health systems, payers, and employers, Lauren integrates remote patient monitoring, AI‑powered chronic care management learning, and care navigation to improve health outcomes across the perinatal continuum.

About Community Initiatives, Inc.
Community Initiatives, Inc., a nonprofit based in Greenwood, SC, is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in rural communities through a holistic approach to health, wellness, and community development. Serving Greenwood, Abbeville, Saluda, Edgefield, McCormick, and Laurens Counties, the organization addresses a range of critical needs, including access to healthcare, early childhood and STEAM education, and economic empowerment. Through advocacy, partnerships, and sustainable programs, Community Initiatives, Inc. fosters resilience and well-being across the communities it serves.  Visit our website at www.myci.us .

About Self Regional Health System
Self Regional Healthcare is a not-for-profit, regional referral hospital that provides care to over 300,000 residents of Greenwood, Abbeville, Laurens, Saluda, McCormick, Edgefield and Newberry counties. Services include prevention and wellness, acute care and tertiary care services including cancer care, neurosurgery, heart and vascular surgery, NICU, orthopedics and genetics. Self Medical Group is its employed physician affiliate network of 40+ practices and more than 250 physicians.

To learn more about how Health Evolve is advancing equitable maternal health in rural communities, visit www.healthevolve.co.

Footnote: * The BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation is an independent licensee of Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.