Here’s a sobering statistic.

Just released data, complied by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, reports that Indianapolis ranks near the bottom — 46th in the nation — in infant mortality, with a rate of 9.7. Thankfully, that’s DOWN from the previous year’s rate of 11.3.

Although still higher than most other developed countries, the U.S. infant mortality rate has declined by 34 percent since 1990. Developments in maternal health and advancements in medical technology partially explain the trend. Despite improvements, racial disparities persist, with African-American (11.6 per 1,000 live births) and American Indian (7.6 per 1,000 live births) infants experiencing higher mortality rates when compared to their white counterparts. And the effects of poverty play a significant role too.

Those takeaways ring true especially for our Better Indy Babies and Healthy Families staff, who are all about helping kids get a great start in life.

Check out the report. It’s worth the read. We commend the Casey Foundation for raising awareness about key issues that can lead to better lives for all Hoosier kids. The question is, what can we, here in Indianapolis, do to keep Indy’s infant mortality rate going DOWN and help our community flourish?

There are lots of challenges to consider. Neighborhoods. Safety. Jobs. Health. Resources. Education.

Each of those is a big challenge, but each needs to be addressed in concert so that more families have more opportunities for a higher quality of life. We owe it to our kids to start the conversation.

HealthNet, Entercom Communications and Sesame Street Live have partnered for this event to promote awareness of HealthNet’s Better Indy Babies and YOU have a chance to WIN 4 tickets to the show and 4 passes to meet the characters! Click here to enter. Pass the word to your friends!

HealthNet’s Better Indy Babies (BIBs) began in 1989 to battle the infant mortality rate in Indianapolis, which was one of the worst in the country. 

Better Indy Babies is a prenatal care coordination program providing services in areas surrounding our primary health care centers. The purpose of the program is to improve the health status of women participating in HealthNet’s OB program in order to reduce infant mortality rates and the incidence of low birth weight infants.

The BIBs program performance data documents a 30% reduction in infant mortality rates, a 20% reduction in preterm deliveries, decreased neonatal intensive care use, and increased self-esteem and parenting skills.  Satisfaction surveys also verify that program participants feel positive about their prenatal experience and that barriers were reduced as a result of their participation in the program.

The Better Indy Babies program serves women in neighborhoods with high teen pregnancy rates and high crime rates.  Other contributing factors include:  increased alcohol and drug use, limited prenatal education, high rates of unwanted or unintended pregnancies, and levels of low income resulting in minimal resources for basic needs such as food and proper housing.  The majority of families served live at or near 100% of the federal poverty level.

For more information on Better Indy Babies, please visit www.betterindybabies.org.

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Share this post with your friends and family!  Win 4 tickets to Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music, plus meet the characters!