Guided Beginnings

Guided Beginnings is a community-driven perinatal program designed to improve maternal and infant health outcomes in South Carolina’s Lakelands region. Led by Self Regional Healthcare in partnership with the SC Center for Rural and Primary Care, the program focuses on high-risk pregnancies and provides continuous support through the baby’s first year of life.

At the heart of Guided Beginnings is a multidisciplinary team—perinatal-trained Community Health Workers, a nurse navigator, and a social worker—who work together to address both clinical and social determinants of health. This includes connecting families to vital resources for nutrition, education, and behavioral health, while ensuring timely prenatal care and coordinated case management.

The program thrives on strong community partnerships with organizations like La Clinica Gratis, which operates a high-risk OB program, and A Place for Us, expanding access to essential services. By building a network of care that spans hospitals, physician practices, and community providers, Guided Beginnings helps reduce maternal complications and severe morbidity, creating healthier beginnings for mothers and babies.