Infant Mortality Task Force Announced
MEDIA RELEASE -- For Immediate Release
Monday, November 18, 2013
CITY COUNCIL ANNOUNCES INFANT MORTALITY TASK FORCE
TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY PLAN TO CUT INFANT MORTALITY RATE BY NEARLY 40 PERCENT
COLUMBUS, OHIO – Today, Columbus City Council President Andrew Ginther was joined by Columbus Public Health Commissioner Dr. Teresa Long and health, business and community leaders to announce a high-level task force that will create a community plan to reduce Columbus’ infant mortality rate.
“Each week in our community more than three families bury a baby before his or her first birthday,” Ginther said. “As our community continues to focus on the educational achievement of our children, we cannot ignore how the first few years of life impact a child’s ability to learn and develop. Our community has the resources and the commitment to create a plan that will ensure all children thrive.”
The infant mortality rate in Franklin County for 2013 is as high as the national rate from the early 1990s. In addition, the infant mortality rate for black babies is two-and-a-half times that of white babies in Franklin County.
Every year, more than 13 percent of babies born in Franklin County are born too early. Disorders related to prematurity and low-birth weights are the leading causes of death for infants, but those same disorders can cause ongoing challenges for babies who survive. Children born pre-term or of low weight have 10 times higher health care costs, are more likely to experience persistent illness and health complications (such as cerebral palsy, breathing and respiratory problems, vision and hearing loss, and feeding and digestive issues) and may be more likely to have difficulties learning in school.
The earlier a baby is born, the greater the likelihood that child will face challenges with school readiness and success because of developmental disabilities and speech and language difficulties, requiring special education.
“Infant mortality rates are a globally acceptable measure of a community’s well-being. Columbus has invested significantly in the health care of pregnant women and their babies, yet we still have a more than twofold gap in mortality rates based on where our families live, learn, work and play. We know we can turn this around,” Long said.
Columbus Public Health will work with Nationwide Children’s Hospital and other stakeholders to lead the task force, which will include the CEOs from the four major health systems in Columbus, as well as representatives from the business community, parents, education and human service organizations. The task force will be responsible for developing a community plan that will reduce Columbus’ infant mortality rate by nearly 40 percent and cut the racial disparity gap in half.
“Efforts are ongoing around the state to reduce infant mortality rates, and I am so proud to be a part of central Ohio’s efforts,” First Lady of Ohio Karen Kasich, and honorary co-chair of the task force, said. “Ohio’s children deserve a healthy start. By focusing on the health of mothers and babies, we are not only strengthening families in our cities, we are also making sure we are providing opportunities to those Ohioans who are the most vulnerable.”
Michael Fiorile, president and CEO of Dispatch Printing Companies, and Donna James, managing director of Lardon &
Associates will also co-chair the task force.
Other members include:
Dr. Steve Allen, MD, CEO Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Judge Laurel Beatty, Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
David Blom, President & CEO, OhioHealth
Lilleana Cavanaugh, Ohio Commission on Latino Affairs
Nichole Dunn, President & CEO, The Women’s Fund of Central OH
Alex Fischer, President & CEO, Columbus Partnership
Dr. Steve Gabbe, MD, Sr. VP of Health Sciences and CEO, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Dr. Dan Good, Interim Superintendent, Columbus City Schools
Anne Harnish, Assistant Director, Ohio Department of Health
Eddie Harrell, VP & General Manager, Radio One
Michelle Heritage, Executive Director, Community Shelter Board
Nathan Hurd, Parent and Co-founder of Babywill.org
Janet E. Jackson, President, United Way
Dr. Teresa Long, Health Commissioner, City of Columbus
Cathy Lyttle, VP Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, Worthington Industries, Inc.
Michelle Mills, Columbus City Council
John O’Grady, President, Franklin County Board of Commissioners
Mark Real, Founding President, KidsOhio.org
Anthony Trotman, Director, Franklin County Job & Family Services
Claus von Zychlin, President & CEO, Mount Carmel
“As we continue to build our city’s well-deserved reputation as a world-class city, it is time for our community to dig
deeper into the causes and to form substantive recommendations for improvement,” said Fiorile.
The first meeting of the task force will be in January 2014 and will continue through mid-2014 with eight, half-day sessions. Each meeting of the task force will take a comprehensive approach to the issues that affect infant mortality including health, societal, community and other factors.
“As a mother, business and community leader, I understand our responsibility to give our children every opportunity to thrive, and our infant mortality rate challenges our notion of living up to this responsibility and being a great place to live, work and play,” said James.
About the Greater Columbus Infant Mortality Task Force
The Greater Columbus Infant Mortality Task Force was formed in November 2013 by City Council President Andrew Ginther. He charged Columbus Public Health and Nationwide Children’s Hospital to lead a task force to reduce the number of infants who die or face ongoing illnesses and disabilities because of challenges in the first year of life. The goal of the task force is to develop a community plan that will reduce the rate of infant mortality in Columbus/Franklin County by nearly 40 percent, from the 2011 benchmark rate of 9.8 infant deaths per 1,000 live births to 6 per 1,000, and cut the racial disparity gap in half. The task force will be supported by a group of experienced leaders in project management, community engagement and clinical and public health issues.
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