Heartland natives Brittney Roy-Morales and Rachel Morrow bring deep policy and public health expertise to Heartland Forward’s growing health & wellness team.
Bentonville, Ark. — Wednesday, June 10, 2026 — Heartland Foward, a nonpartisan, nonprofit, think-and-do tank working to accelerate economic growth and deliver lasting health improvements in states and local communities in the middle of the country, today announced two additions to its health team. Brittney Roy-Morales will serve as Senior Director of Policy and Strategy, and Rachel Morrow will serve as Director of the Maternal & Child Health Center for Policy & Practice (MCH CPP). Their combined work will advance research, policy and programming to improve health outcomes and economic opportunity across the 20 heartland States.
“With Brittney and Rachel joining our team, I am excited to build on the strong momentum we have established and accelerate Heartland Forward’s maternal health work across the heartland,” said Angie Cooper, president of Heartland Forward. “Strong maternal health outcomes are foundational to healthy families, thriving communities and a competitive economy. We have the data, the policy roadmap and a talented team ready to drive change. Across the heartland, we are committed to advancing practical solutions that improve outcomes, expand opportunity and help families and communities thrive.”
As Senior Director of Policy and Strategy, Brittney Roy-Morales will lead state health policy efforts, helping drive innovative solutions to improve the health and well-being of communities across the heartland. She will also support the Heartland Health Caucus, a select group of leaders—including lawmakers and executive branch officials—to exchange new ideas in addressing pressing health issues and accelerating new and consistent policy approaches across states.
Roy-Morales joins Heartland Forward with deep experience at the intersection of health care and public policy. Most recently, she served as a program director at the National Governors Association (NGA), where she led initiatives on public health and health care delivery including developing Tackling the Maternal and Infant Health Crisis: A Governor’s Playbook, and advised governors and their teams on policies affecting communities nationwide. Previously, she served as a senior advisor in former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson’s Office, covering public health, welfare and labor. She is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas and holds a master’s degree in public administration and non-profit management.
“Communities across the heartland are demonstrating what’s possible when innovative policies and strong leadership come together to improve health and well-being,” said Brittney Roy-Morales, Senior Director of Policy and Strategy at Heartland Forward. “I’ve spent my career helping states turn good ideas into action, and that’s exactly what this moment calls for. I’m honored to join Heartland Forward at a time when there is a shared commitment to creating meaningful, lasting impact.”
Rachel Morrow will direct the Maternal & Child Health Center for Policy & Practice (MCH CPP), which Heartland Forward launched to improve maternal health outcomes through research, innovative care models, policy leadership and on-the-ground action. As Director of the MCH CPP, Morrow will lead efforts to develop sustainable, evidence-based solutions to improve outcomes for mothers, children and families across the heartland.
MCH CPP’s work builds from Heartland Forward’s landmark research report, The Economic Case For Investing in Maternal Health, which describes how improved maternal health outcomes directly improve state economies. Before joining Heartland Forward, Morrow served as Director of Membership at Dialog, an organization convening global leaders across sectors for meaningful conversation. Morrow earned her Master’s in Public Affairs from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. She previously worked as a consultant with Arizona’s Medicaid agency, helping identify ways to expand health care services for justice-involved individuals, and served in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel.
A Northwest Arkansas native, the work is personal to Morrow. “Growing up in Arkansas, I saw how much a family’s health shapes everything—the ability to work, to learn, to build a life here,” said Rachel Morrow, director of the Maternal & Child Health Center for Policy & Practice. “Coming back to the heartland to lead this work means a great deal to me. My focus is on practical, evidence-based solutions we know work, so that better outcomes for moms and babies become the norm across our region.”
About Heartland Forward
Heartland Forward is a non-profit, policy think-and-do tank that turns ideas into action for states and local communities. Our mission is to accelerate economic growth, change the narrative about the middle of the country and generate $500 million of economic impact to the heartland by 2030. We do this through applied research, community-driven programs, policy and convenings—focusing on regional competitiveness, talent pipeline and health and wellness.