Infant Mortality Reduction
The City of Columbus started a program through Columbus Public Health called Celebrate One to reduce the infant mortality rates in Columbus.
The Greater Hilltop Area Shalom Zone partnered with Celebrate One to host a community health worker called a Connector in the Hilltop community. Our Connector referred mothers and parents who are pregnant or had a child within their first year to resources to insure they had the support and information needed to get their baby to their first birthday.
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Our goals for the community health workers included:
- Identify and engage women/families to schedule prenatal/primary care appointments
- Refer women to services that address basic needs and needs for new infants (cribs, food and/or housing insecurity, etc.) so that women can focus on their health and their family’s well-being
- Follow up with families to make sure they are connected to services and that barrier or access issues experienced by the families are documented and addressed
- Inform partners about gaps in services for residents
- Validate pathways for residents that lead to positive birth outcomes in our neighborhoods
Positive Results
In 2017 our first Connector, Victoria Settle, pictured above with Mayor Andrew Ginther and other members of Celebrate One, made over 400 referrals to programs and agencies like Moms2B, the Ohio Benefit Bank, primary care, and other community resources. In addition, Victoria worked with other Celebrate One Connectors to host two community baby showers for west side women. Over 200 women were served by these celebratory events where diapers and baby supplies were given away and community resource agencies were present.
In 2018, the Zone welcomed Celebrate One Connector Fannisha Page. Fannisha reached local families through events such as the Hilltop Bean Dinner, Summer Jam West, and football games. She provided free diapers, cribs, car seats, and other essentials. Fannisha trained local families in the ABCs of safe sleep. In total, Fannisha connected over 500 mothers and families with the resources needed to help their infants reach their first birthdays.
The Zone is proud of its connection to Celebrate One. The work to ensure that more babies of color celebrate their first birthdays continues. Please find more information about Celebrate One at their website.
For additional stats and information see the fact sheet below:
