* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: President Young
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Informational Hearing - Baltimore Healthy Start, Inc.
FOR the purpose of requesting the Health Commissioner and the CEO of Baltimore Healthy Start, Inc., to brief the City Council on the contributions of the organization to the health and welfare of the youngest members of Baltimore City communities over the 20 years of its existence, on the catchment areas served by the full service centers and satellite offices, on the services available at each location, and the success of the program in providing prenatal health services to the most disadvantaged women in Baltimore City.
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Recitals
Baltimore Healthy Start is celebrating the 20th year of being the only federally funded infant mortality reduction initiative in the State of Maryland. Through the years the organization has served over 13,000 families, successfully preventing very low birth weight babies and infant mortality, exceeding the Surgeon General's Healthy People 2010 goal for Very Low Birth Weight of .9% of live births.
Birth weight is the single most important indicator in infant death as 1 in 4, or 25%, of babies born at very low birth weight (less than 3.3 pounds) will die before the age of one. In 2009, there were no infant deaths among Healthy Start clients for the first time in the organization's history.
In a 2010 press release, Healthy Start's CEO stated: "Healthy Start is doing its part to make a difference in these tiny lives, but more needs to be done. African American babies continue to die at 2 ½ times that of White babies. Annually, in Maryland, for both Black and White babies, over 600 infants die with another 7,200 born prematurely. It will only be through targeted and sustained efforts, that reform the fragmented systems that our poorer families must navigate, that city, state and nationwide success in reducing infant deaths will be achieved ".
The Centers for Disease Control finds that the infant mortality rate is one of the most important indicators for the health of a nation. Baltimore Healthy Start, Inc., is doing its part to make a difference using its grassroots visiting model to improve the birth outcomes among the most vulnerable citizens of the City.
Increasing public awareness of the challenges the organization faces and the services the Centers offer benefits both the public and the corporation. Concerned citizens are alerted that they can donate to Baltimore Healthy Start, Inc., through City, State, and Federal Combined Charity Campaigns. Citizens in need are made aware that they can access services at 3 full service Neighborhood Healthy Start Centers and a number of satellite offices located throughout Baltimore's neediest neighborhoods.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Health Commissioner and the CEO of Baltimore Healthy Start, Inc., are requested to brief the City Council on the contributions of the organization to the health and welfare of the youngest members of Baltimore City communities over the 20 years of its existence, on the catchment areas served by the full service centers and satellite offices, on the services available at each location, and the success of the program in providing prenatal health services to the most disadvantaged women in Baltimore City.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Health Commissioner, the CEO of Baltimore Healthy Start, Inc., and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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