The Federal Healthy Start Initiative in Gadsden County. Decreasing Racial Disparity in Infant Mortality. Funded by Health Resources and Services Administration, DHHS, 7/05- 6/09.
In an effort to address some of the more critical needs identified and reduce factors associated with high infant mortality rates, the Gadsden Healthy Start project has identified four project goals to be accomplished by 5/31/09. These are to: (1) Reduce the African American disparity in perinatal health indicators; (2) Enhance growth and development and promote health of African American infants; (3) Promote longer interconceptional intervals and preventative health behaviors in African American women; and (4) Enhance the local perinatal system of care. The project is a collaborative partnership between the Florida State University, the Florida Department of Health, Early Head Start, and Healthy Families Gadsden. To ensure adequate community representation, Consortium membership includes residents and consumers, local providers of perinatal care, staff from social service agencies, clergy, local business representatives and other key community leaders. The consortium reviewed the results of the needs assessment and assisted with the prioritization of problems to be addressed in this initiative.