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Behind many healthy pregnancies and thriving families are community health workers who quietly guide patients through the challenges that can come with navigating healthcare. In South Arkansas, three women with deep roots in the region are making that difference every day.
Alexys Baggett, Amaya Minchew, and Tawana Wainwright serve as maternal health community health workers with Mainline Health Systems, helping expectant mothers connect with medical care, community resources and emotional support throughout pregnancy and beyond.
Community health workers act as trusted liaisons between patients and healthcare providers, helping bridge the gap between medical services and social support systems to improve health outcomes for families.
While each woman followed a different path into the field, all three say the work has become deeply meaningful.
Minchew said she always knew she wanted to work in healthcare, though she wasn’t sure what role she would eventually fill. “I always knew healthcare was where I wanted to be,” she said.
Baggett and Wainwright discovered the profession later. Baggett admitted she did not know what a community health worker was when she first applied for the job, while Wainwright spent much of her career working in retail before transitioning into healthcare about four years ago.
Today, the three work closely together serving mothers across a region that spans roughly 13 counties in Arkansas.
Their work begins when a patient first visits the clinic for prenatal care and often continues through pregnancy and for up to two years after the baby is born. On any given day, they may be assisting patients in the clinic, conducting home visits, making follow-up phone calls or traveling throughout the community to connect families with resources.
“We base our days off the nurse’s schedule, but every day is different,” the group said.
Their role allows them to support patients in both practical and personal ways. They help families apply for insurance, locate transportation to appointments and connect with services available in their communities.
As mothers approach the end of their pregnancies, the workers provide a baby bag filled with essentials such as diapers, wipes and creams. They can also help provide breast pumps when needed.
The group also works with local hospitals to ensure patients have what they need when their babies arrive. If a new mother needs a car seat before leaving the hospital or has transportation concerns, the community health workers help connect them with available assistance.
While the resources they provide are important, the relationships they build with patients often leave the greatest impact.
Each woman shared moments that reminded them just how meaningful their work can be.
“One patient came from out of state and had her baby early with no one to go to the hospital with her,” Wainwright said. “I was able to be there with her, and she was very thankful.”
Minchew recalled helping a patient resolve an insurance issue that had become difficult to navigate because of a language barrier.
“She was having trouble getting her insurance straightened out, and because of the language barrier she didn’t know what to do,” Minchew said. “I was able to call and help get everything worked out for her.”
Baggett remembered supporting a mother who was preparing to deliver twins by cesarean section while her husband was traveling for work.
“He was flying in and was on the phone with her while she was being taken into surgery,” Baggett said. “I was able to be there with her during that moment.”
Moments like those are what make the job so rewarding, the women said.
They say one of the most meaningful parts of their work comes after the baby is born, when patients send updates or continue reaching out to stay connected.
“Seeing them happy and grateful for the services we provide, and hearing from them after their babies are born, that’s the most rewarding part,” they said.
The workers also continue to grow in their roles. In December 2025, Baggett and Wainwright completed a 12-month doula certification program, equipping them to provide additional emotional support to mothers, assist with birth planning and help patients understand their options during the birthing process. Minchew will be completing her certification soon as well..
Each woman credits family members for helping shape the values that guide their work today. Baggett said her sisters were influential in her life as she is the oldest of three, Minchew points to her hardworking father and Wainwright credits her grandmother as the strong foundation of her family.
All three say they are proud to serve the communities they call home.
South Arkansas, they say, offers a close-knit atmosphere where neighbors know one another and familiar faces appear everywhere — even when they are not working.
“You see your patients when you’re out in the community,” they said. “Everyone knows everyone.”
Above all, the women say their goal is to make sure no patient feels alone during one of the most important times in their lives.
“We love our job,” they said. “We’re here to help bridge the gaps and help with the little things, because those things matter too.”
For anyone considering becoming a community health worker, their advice is simple.
“Do it,” they said. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it. It’s so rewarding to see the people you’ve helped.”
And for the community they serve, they offer a reminder that guides their work each day: treat people with kindness and never be afraid to ask for help.
For Baggett, Minchew and Wainwright, the work is about far more than appointments, phone calls or resources. It’s about showing up for families during one of the most important seasons of their lives. Whether it’s sitting beside a mother in the hospital, solving a problem that feels overwhelming or simply checking in with a phone call months after a baby is born, the three say the relationships they build are what matter most. In communities across South Arkansas, their quiet acts of care continue to remind mothers that they are never alone.
“At the end of the day, we just want people to know they’re not alone,” they said. “If someone needs help, we’re here.”
