Published: Nov. 18, 2015
The Sparrow Mother Baby Center has received a $10,000 grant to participate in a statewide program to reduce infant mortality.
The Michigan Infant Mortality Reduction Plan is funding projects at hospitals and birthing centers around the state to support the surviving and thriving of Michigan’s infants.
Each of the 20 birthing centers chosen will develop a plan of action to link eligible infants and expectant mothers to Michigan’s Medicaid home visiting program, the Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP), and the Children’s Special Health Care Services Program (CSHCS).
According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), nearly half of all infants delivered in Michigan are eligible for this important Medicaid-entitled benefit.
“Sparrow’s participation in the grant will help us link our mothers and babies to outside resources to provide a transition of care from hospital to home,” said Sparrow Women and Children Director Kathy Marble. “This collaboration with community partners will help more infants to thrive.”
The Birthing Hospital Planning Projects may also include other methods to increase postpartum follow-up visits and breastfeeding, which are also important factors in better health outcomes for infants.
With more than a quarter-million baby deliveries to our credit, Sparrow is the premier birthing hospital in mid-Michigan. Earlier this year, Sparrow was also designated mid-Michigan’s only Baby Friendly® Hospital, a national benchmark in quality care for mothers and babies that promotes best practices in infant feeding and mother/baby bonding.
Michigan is currently ranked 39th for infant mortality rates nationally. According to MDHHS, almost seven of every 1,000 babies born in Michigan die by age one. Infant mortality rates are also much higher for certain racial and ethnic groups, with rates for African American and American Indian babies more than twice that of Caucasian Americans.
Implementation of the planning projects will occur in 2016.
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