MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama Women’s Commission saw significant growth in 2024 with its outreach efforts through 211 Know, a free text messaging service that provides support and connections to resources that promote women’s health and well-being.
Commission members said Tuesday they hope to grow that success even further.
“These texts have been great and so well received, and I know that the people with the (Alabama) Department of Public Health are very, very impressed with it and they’re so happy with our collaboration,” said Cathy McGowin, a member of the commission.
Meeting at the Alabama State House, the Women’s Commission reviewed data on the service’s success during the previous year, and revealed subscriptions had increased by 3,777 to around 10,000 in fiscal year 2024, an 83% increase over fiscal year 2023.
“It’s very simple, but it truly fulfills the Women’s Commission’s mission of promoting women and things that are healthy and positive for women,” said Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, speaking with Alabama Daily News.
The text service is primarily targeted toward women eligible for the Alabama Department of Public Health’s Well Woman Alabama Program, a health initiative that offers a range of free services to support women’s health such as reproductive health services and preventive health screenings.
Eligibility for the program is limited to women ages 15 to 55, and is currently available in only 12 counties – Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Covington, Dallas, Henry, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Montgomery, Russell, and Wilcox – though members of the Women’s Commission are hoping to see it expanded.
Women’s health in Alabama routinely ranks among the poorest in the nation. The state’s maternal mortality rate, for instance, is 29.9 maternal deaths per 100,000 births, far above the national rate of 18.2 per 100,000. The state’s infant mortality rate is also among the highest in the nation, with 7.8 infant deaths per 1,000 births in 2023, far above the national rate of 5.6 per 1,000.
The state’s availability of obstetrical services has also decreased in recent years, with some health experts warning of an impending crisis were the state unable to reverse the trend of hospitals shuttering pregnancy-related services.
The text service has been operational since at least 2021, though saw its largest uptick in usage over the past 12 months. In fiscal 2024, social media channels associated with the 211 Know service generated 3,100 sign-ups, nearly a 300% increase over the previous year. The social media channels also amassed more than 10 million views throughout the year.
Events were another key method for the Women’s Commission to continue its outreach efforts, with members also planning Tuesday for its upcoming annual Impact Luncheon in early April.
The event, commissioners said, would feature a panel of women speakers selected around the theme of “celebrating women leadership.” Both Collins and Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, another member of the commission, named newly elected Alabama Supreme Court Justice Sarah Stewart as a potential panelist, with Stewart later telling ADN she considered the suggestion “an honor.”
The number of events the commission can organize, however, will be partially contingent on state funding.
“Last year we got $65,000, and we’re hoping to get that again, but there’s not a guarantee,” McGowin said.