Guilford County issued the following announcement on Jan. 28.
Every Baby Guilford will host a virtual event Crucial Conversations: The State of Infant Mortality in Guilford County, Thursday, February 24, 2022 from 9a.m. to 10:30a.m. The purpose for this virtual meeting, which usually is held as a legislative breakfast, is to present the 2020 Infant Mortality Data for Guilford County. Congresswoman Alma Adams will serve as the keynote speaker for the event.
The event is poised to re-inspire the bold goal of reducing infant mortality disparities by half by the year 2026. Of the 6,045 babies born in Guilford County in 2019, 56 did not live to see their first birthday. This virtual event celebrates the collective action movement currently underway by building collaborative solutions that centers and works together with the community to disrupt longstanding health outcomes and racial disparities throughout Guilford County.
“We are excited for Congresswoman Adams to bring our keynote address which includes an update on the national response to Black Maternal Health with the 2021 Momnibus Act,” said Jean Workman, Every Baby Guilford, Program Manager. “Using a community driven, radically inclusive approach, we intend to change the odds for everyone at the systems-level. Every Baby Guilford’s mission is to ignite and mobilize Guilford County through partnerships and unified strategies to eliminate racial disparities and prevent infant deaths.”
The 2021 Momnibus Act directs multi-agency efforts to improve maternal health, particularly among racial and ethnic minority groups, veterans, and other vulnerable populations. It also addresses maternal health issues related to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other specified departments must address the social determinants of maternal health, which include child care, housing, food security, transportation, and environmental conditions.
The bill also extends to 24 months postpartum eligibility for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Other speakers for this event include Melvin ‘Skip’ Alston, Guilford County Commissioners’ Chairman; Karim-Rhoades, Executive Director, Cone Health Women’s Health Ambulatory Care Continuum and Every Baby Guilford, Board Chair; and Jean Workman, Every Baby Guilford Program Manager.
“Guilford County Commissioners have named infant mortality as one of our top priorities and is committed to ending the high disparity rates for Black families in our community, “said Guilford County Commissioners’ Chairman, Skip Alston.
Registration for the virtual event is strongly encouraged by using the Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3zCm6nLGRImWeJoWWbj6MA
This virtual event will also be livestreamed on Every Baby Guilford and Guilford County Government Facebook Page.
For more information about Every Baby Guilford and this event, visit www.everybabyguilford.org
Original source can be found here.
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