What Happened?
New Haven’s Healthy Start Program was awarded a $5.4 million federal grant to support initiatives aimed at lowering infant mortality rates. It is one of 87 programs across the country given a portion of the $65 million federal dollars dedicated to the cause.
Goal
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $5.4 million to New Haven’s Healthy Start Program to fuel the organization’s efforts to reduce the local infant mortality rate and improve care for pregnant mothers in high-risk areas.
The Healthy Start Program first launched in 1997, and has since received $16.9 million in federal grants to help it service more than 16,000 mothers and infants. The Program reported an infant mortality rate among participants from 2005 to 2009 of 3.7 deaths per 1,000 births, compared to the nationwide average of 6.17 per 1,000 births.
The Community Foundation of Greater New Haven reported infant mortality rates differ between cities, as well as races and ethnicities. The Healthy Start Program is designed to identify specific areas and demographics at high-risk and provide appropriate services. The five-year federal grant will ensure the program continues to make a positive impact on public health in New Haven.
Healthy Start Nationwide
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provided $65 million in grants to 87 organizations across 33 states this year working toward lowering infant mortality rates and pregnancy-related health problems. The recipient programs include:
- 22 in rural communities
- 4 along the U.S./Mexico border
- 3 in Native American communities
- 22 in cities launching their first Healthy Start initiative
All grant awardees must design Healthy Start Programs with five key strategies at the core:
- Improving women’s health and access to care
- Promoting high-quality service
- Strengthening family resilience
- Impacting the community as a whole
- Increasing program accountability
First launched in 1991, the wider Healthy Start Program is managed by the HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration. The funding is awarded to community initiatives with infant mortality rates of at least 1.5 times higher than the national average, as well as high rates of serious medical conditions resulting from pregnancy and delivery complications.
U.S. Problem
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the infant mortality rate in the United States is worse than 25 other countries worldwide. Looking at international data from 2010, the report reveals 6.1 infants die in the United States for every 1,000 births, which is more than double the rates reported in Finland, Japan, Portugal, Sweden and the Czech Republic. While the U.S. rate is high, 6.1 is an improvement from 6.87 reported in 2005.
In 2011, more than 24,000 infants died in the United States, many of which have been attributed to disparities in prenatal care. CBS News reported there are significant gaps in access to and utilization of prenatal care across the country, inequities not seen in other developed nations. Healthy Start Programs specifically target these disparities to accelerate improvements in prenatal and preconception care.
Funding Healthy Communities
Gov1 has reported on several federal grants used to support increasing access to healthcare services in underserved communities.