HHS Grants $3.6M to New Haven, Conn., Program to Reduce Infant Mortality Rate, Boost Children’s Health
HHS has awarded $3.6 million over four years to Healthy Start, a program managed by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, to reduce the city's infant mortality rate by "steering" women with "high-risk" pregnancies toward prenatal care, the New Haven Register reports. The program will continue to help women "navigate" the health care system by providing advice, support and transportation. Run in conjunction with the city Health Department, the program also will focus on "eliminating racial and ethnic disparities" in the infant mortality rates. For example, of the city's 36 infant and fetal deaths in 1999, all but three were minorities. The Register reports the funding also will be used to focus on maternal depression and the health of children through age two through immunizations and check-ups. Amos Smith, health program officer for the foundation, said, "We believe [this grant] will make a huge impact on the quality of life of the city's children. ... For the first time, we will not just be concerned about what happens before a child is born. We're trying to take a seamless look at children from preconception to birth and beyond" (Melago, New Haven Register, 7/2).
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