When Governor Eric Holcomb made reducing Indiana’s infant mortality rate a priority in 2018, utilizing data to identify and provide services for at-risk individuals was a big part of the plan, and we were proud to support that effort. Now, the state is starting to see results: Gov. Holcomb has announced that the infant mortality rate is at its lowest level since the state began recording in 1900.
“We’ve known all along that reducing Indiana’s infant mortality rate would take time and partnerships, and it’s gratifying to see that work pay off,” said State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG in a Pilot News article covering the announcement. “We must continue to encourage early prenatal care and promote safe sleep practices so that we can celebrate more first birthdays in Indiana.”
Known as My Healthy Baby, the state’s program was intended to serve 20 counties by December 2020 but is on track to exceed that goal and will add another 25 counties in 2021. Its intent is to streamline efforts so that communities disproportionately affected by infant mortality are first to receive resources.
Read more about how we worked with the state to develop MPH, or click over to The Pilot News for the full article.
