New Regional Maternal Health Coordinator brings continuity, connection to families
Sioux Center, Iowa (September 2026) - For Haley Jalas, maternal care is about more than the moment a baby arrives. It is about everything that comes before it, everything that follows, and the people who help a family navigate it all.
Jalas, RN, has stepped into a new role as Regional Maternal Health Coordinator at Sioux Center Health, bringing three years of labor and delivery experience — and her own experience as a mother of two — to an effort focused on making maternal care more connected across the region.
“I genuinely love to help people, especially as they begin their journey into motherhood,” Jalas said. “I want to help them feel heard, informed and confident as they navigate this important time in their life.”
The new position is designed to help bridge the spaces between patients, clinics, hospitals, providers and community resources. In collaboration with surrounding facilities, Jalas will help families remain connected to their local communities for prenatal care while maintaining flexibility in where they ultimately deliver.
Some of her work will be highly visible. Families may meet Jalas in the clinic, hear from her by phone, see her during a postpartum hospital stay or reconnect with her through a Mommy and Me appointment.
Other parts will happen quietly behind the scenes: helping coordinate records, keeping paperwork current, communicating with providers and making sure the right information is where it needs to be when a patient arrives for an appointment.
The goal, Jalas said, is simple: to make the journey feel as seamless and supported as possible.
For Jalas, the opportunity also represents a kind of full-circle nursing experience. As a labor and delivery nurse, she often cared for patients during one of the most significant moments of their lives, only to wonder afterward how they and their families were doing.
“Now, I’ll have the opportunity to connect with expectant mothers during pregnancy and continue supporting them throughout their postpartum journey,” she said. “I’m excited to build meaningful relationships, provide education and support, and be a trusted resource for mothers and families.”
Her own journey into motherhood has deepened that perspective. Having two children of her own has given Jalas a firsthand understanding of the energy, emotion, uncertainty and joy that accompany growing a family — experiences she says have made her a better nurse.
“I have truly loved becoming a mother, and that experience has also helped me become a better nurse,” she said.
Looking ahead, Jalas hopes to help strengthen the region’s network of maternal support. One idea she is particularly excited about is bringing back a monthly postpartum support group — a welcoming place where mothers can step out of the house, meet other women and share the challenges and milestones of early parenthood.
“Becoming a mother can feel isolating at times,” Jalas said. “Having the opportunity to connect with other women who may be experiencing similar emotions, struggles and milestones can make a meaningful difference.”
Building relationships will be a central theme of Jalas’ first year. She hopes to collaborate closely with local providers, organizations and support services while helping families access care close to home whenever possible.
That spirit of collaboration is already taking shape. Sioux Center Health recently welcomed a new midwife through a partnership with Promise Community Health Center — a particularly meaningful development for Jalas, who was trained by the midwife, Bronwen Dean, when Jalas was beginning her own career as a labor nurse.
“We are all on a team just trying to serve our patients,” Jalas said.
“I think the most important part of collaborating with other providers and organizations is that we all have the same goal in mind, and that is to do what is best for our patients.”
Ultimately, Jalas envisions a connected community of care in which families know where to turn, feel comfortable asking questions and have someone helping them along the way.
For a journey as personal as becoming a parent, that kind of continuity can make all the difference.
“I want to be another layer of support for patients and families throughout their journey,” Jalas said. “By building these relationships and listening to our patients, we can better understand their needs, identify opportunities to grow and continue finding ways to support them as they build and grow their families.”
This project was supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award to Iowa totaling $209,040,064.71 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
