EASTON, MD — Rivers & Roads Consulting is pleased to announce its engagement with “The Village,” a local maternal health organization working to expand access to critical prenatal and postpartum care on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Consultants Jodie Schram and Chris Wheedleton have been retained to guide the organization through the process of obtaining nonprofit status, a pivotal step that will allow it to serve expectant and new mothers regardless of their ability to pay.
The organization addresses a widening gap in regional maternal healthcare, providing support to mothers who may face waits of weeks or months before accessing traditional clinical prenatal care. Its services include prenatal and postpartum support classes and Doula services, all of which have demonstrated measurable improvements in maternal and infant health outcomes. As healthcare provider availability continues to decline on the Eastern Shore, the need for accessible, community-centered alternatives has become increasingly urgent.
Founder Samantha Basham asserts, “Making additional and complementary support services beyond standard prenatal and postpartum OB visits available to all on the Eastern Shore promotes the well-being of families for generations to come.”
Nonprofit designation will enable Basham’s organization to pursue grant funding, eliminate financial barriers for clients, and build a sustainable foundation for serving the region’s expectant and new mothers for years to come.
“We are honored to work alongside an organization filling such a critical need in our community,” said Chris Wheedleton of Rivers & Roads Consultancy. Jodie Schram added, “Every mother deserves support during pregnancy and beyond, and this nonprofit status will help make that a reality for more families in our region.”
Is your organization ready to grow—but needs the right structure to serve more people?
Rivers & Roads Consulting helps nonprofits, founders, and community-based organizations turn mission-driven ideas into sustainable operating models. From nonprofit formation and governance support to strategic planning, funding readiness, and implementation guidance, we help leaders build the structure they need to expand access, strengthen impact, and serve their communities with confidence.
