Press Room
News Coverage
Herald Times- June 13, 2022 - Tandem Birth Center plans to partially open this summer, fully open by end of 2022
Herald Times - Oct 8, 2021 - Tandem birth center, Spencer Pride receive large grant funding from Gannett Foundation
Bloom Magazine - June 14, 2021 - Coming in 2022: Tandem Community Birth Center and Postpartum House
Herald Times - May 18, 2021 - New Birthing Center Aiming to Open in 2022
Press Releases
October 5, 2021
Tandem Community Birth Center and Postpartum House Receives $50,000 “A Community Thrives” Grant From USA TODAY NETWORK and The Gannett Foundation
Tandem will receive a $50,000 “A Community Thrives” Grant to launch their Birth Center and Midwifery Clinic.
October 5, 2021 (Bloomington, IN) – Tandem Community Birth Center and Postpartum House was announced a grant recipient of A Community Thrives, a grantmaking and crowd-funding program from the USA TODAY NETWORK and a part of the Gannett Foundation, today. Tandem will receive a $50,000 “A Community Thrives” grant to launch their Birth Center and Midwifery Clinic.
A Community Thrives supports non-profit organizations with projects focused on community building and has helped to contribute more than $17 million since 2017. This year, A Community Thrives engaged participants in 45 states. Tandem was named one of 32 winners in {insert category}.
Tandem seeks to improve perinatal outcomes by trusting patients, increasing options for care and challenging the status quo. The A Community Thrives grant will support renovating and opening our region’s first freestanding community birth center and midwifery care clinic.
“We are so thrilled to be recipients of this grant and to have recognition that for a community to thrive we have to support our young families. This starts at birth.”
“We are proud of the work Tandem Community Birth Center and Postpartum House has done to enhance Bloomington and the surrounding area. At Gannett, we take pride in supporting the organizations that make a positive impact in their communities. Through A Community Thrives, we lend financial support to that purpose as well as rally the whole community to champion a good and meaningful cause,” said CEO and Chairman Mike Reed
About A Community Thrives
A Community Thrives is a grantmaking and crowd-funding program from the USA TODAY NETWORK and is part of the Gannett Foundation. A Community Thrives supports non-profit organizations with projects focused on community building and has helped to contribute more than $17 million since 2017.
About USA TODAY NETWORK
USA TODAY NETWORK, part of Gannett Co, Inc. (NYSE: GCI), is the largest local-to-national media organization in the country, powered by our award-winning newsrooms and marketing solutions business. With deep roots in local communities spanning the U.S. with more than 250 local media brands, plus USA TODAY, we engage more than 140 million people every month through a diverse portfolio of multi-platform content offerings and experiences. For more information, visit www.gannett.com.
September 28, 2021
Tandem Community Birth Center and Postpartum House Receives $30,000 Jack Hopkins Social Services Grant From The City of Bloomington
Tandem receives a $30,000 Jack Hopkins Grant to launch their Birth Center and Midwifery Clinic.
October 5, 2021 (Bloomington, IN) – Tandem Community Birth Center and Postpartum House was announced a grant recipient of this year’s Jack Hopkins Social Services Grant Program, a grantmaking program run by the City of Bloomington. Tandem will receive a $30,000 Jack Hopkins grant to launch their Birth Center and Midwifery Clinic.
Jack Hopkins Social Services Grants support non-profit organizations with projects focused on previously identified social services needs in our community and has helped to contribute more than $5 million since its inception in 1993. This year, over $500,000 was awarded to more than 30 organizations.
Tandem seeks to improve perinatal outcomes by trusting patients, increasing options for care and challenging the status quo. This Jack Hopkins grant will support renovating and opening our region’s first freestanding community birth center and midwifery care clinic.
“Being awarded this Jack Hopkins grant has been exactly the boost we needed. Because of it we are currently negotiating a space for our permanent location and are on track to open our doors in 2022. We are so grateful to the City of Bloomington for recognizing the need that we are filling.”
While Tandem is primarily focused on launching it’s midwifery clinic and birth center, it is currently offering some limited services. Evidence-based childbirth and lactation education classes are currently open for enrollment and are offered on a donation basis to ensure they are accessible to all, regardless of ability to pay. These courses are intended for anyone planning to give birth in the near future, regardless of where or how they plan to birth.
To learn more about Tandem’s current or future offerings, please visit Tandembloomington.org
March 20, 2021
Community members creating a birth center in Southern Indiana to combat high maternal death rate in Indiana
Bloomington, Indiana- In response to the coronavirus pandemic and safety concerns, many pregnant families across the United States have decided to explore out-of-hospital birth options, such as birth centers. Birth centers are health centers outside of the hospital system, which are staffed by midwives and give birthing families personalized, high-quality care.
However, not all communities have the option of a birth center. For families in southern Indiana, the closest birthing centers are located in Indianapolis or just outside Louisville. In Bloomington, Indiana, a group of community members have begun to lay the groundwork to open Tandem, a community birth center for Monroe and surrounding counties.
“The goal of Tandem is to provide the families of Indiana a safe birthing option outside of the hospital. We believe that all birthing folks deserve a choice in their care,” says Julie Duhon, co-founder of Tandem. “Tandem is focused on helping people make informed medical decisions. We believe that healthcare should work with, or in tandem, with their patients, to help them make decisions that are right for them and their families.”
Unfortunately, Indiana has consistently been ranked one of the most dangerous places for people to give birth in the United States. The state has the third highest maternal death rate; for every 100,000 live births, 50.2 women die due to pregnancy related issues, compared to the US average of 29.6 deaths. For black birthing bodies, the risks dramatically increase. Per 100,000 births, 71.5 black mothers will die in Indiana. These rates are worse than the rates of maternal death in under-developed nations.
According to the CDC, the reason for maternal death varies, with a third of deaths occurring more than a week after birth. After birth, new families are no longer being seen by their providers and the isolation of the fourth trimester makes finding support difficult. Tandem hopes to act as a community center, bridging the gaps in community care, bringing together families and individuals to create a web of connection, so no one slips through the cracks. Tandem hopes to help support the birth families of Indiana by providing not only a safe alternative to birth but also holistic prenatal and reproductive care.
Tandem is a nonprofit 501(c)3, meant to be built by and for the community. Right now, Tandem is asking community members to donate $40 to reach their $40,000 spring goal. With these funds, Tandem will be able to establish a home for its birth center and postpartum house. To donate now, visit tandembloomington.org/donate.
Tandem is also looking for community members interested in serving on the board, acting as a collaborative physician, or volunteering their time. If you are interested in learning more about Tandem’s mission or would like to support their fundraising please visit tandembloomington.org.
