* 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 Rawlings-Blake
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
In Recognition of Baltimore City Healthy Start, Inc. During Celebration of National Infant Mortality Awareness Month
FOR the purpose of congratulating Baltimore City Healthy Start, Inc., and the Baltimore City Health Commissioner on reducing infant mortality in Baltimore City to the Surgeon General's target goal for Healthy People 2010 and endorsing the objective of National Infant Mortality Awareness Month to increase national awareness and to reduce the rate of infant mortality in this country, by 2010.
Body
Recitals
On September 20, 2007, federal, state, and local officials celebrated the successful efforts of Baltimore City Healthy Start, Inc., in reducing the number of very low birth weight babies born to clients enrolled in the program's community based programs. At 1622 North Carey Street, one of the neighborhood sites, the Baltimore City Commissioner of Health, the CEO and Board Chair of Healthy Start, Inc., the CEO of the National Healthy Start Association, and the Associate Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration addressed a gathering celebrating babies born to participants obtaining low birth weight rate goals set by the Surgeon General in Healthy People 2010.
Baltimore City Healthy Start, Inc., is part of the National Healthy Start Association (NHSA) whose members include 100 federally funded Healthy Start projects in the United States that promote community-based maternal and child health programs, particularly those that focus on the reduction of infant mortality. The United States ranks 23rd among industrialized nations in the world in infant mortality - the death of a baby before its 1st birthday. In Maryland, over 1,200 fetal and infant deaths occur each year, and another 7,200 children are born prematurely, putting them at risk to becoming part of infant U.S. mortality statistics, despite the State's ranking as the nation's richest.
Baltimore City's Healthy Start, Maryland's only federally funded infant mortality reduction program, has operated for 16 years, serving over 10,000 families. In 2006, the program was successful in reducing to 0.9% the number of very low birth weight babies - babies born weighing less than 3.3 pounds and at a greater risk of infant mortality - born to program participants. These participants, pregnant and postpartum women receive services to them selves and their children, primarily through home visits. Case management services, family planning assistance and education, contraceptives, HIV/STD testing, parenting groups, breast feeding support, mental health groups, and job readiness services are also offered.
The goals of National Infant Mortality Awareness Month are to increase national awareness of the contributing factors to infant mortality and to urge community leaders to get involved in efforts to reduce the rate of infant mortality in this country, by 2010. In reiterating these goals in September 2007, the CEO of National Healthy Start Association assures the nation that: "Collectively, we can make this happen!" Baltimore City Healthy Start, Inc., is commended for consistently doing its part.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body congratulates Baltimore City Healthy Start, Inc., and the Baltimore City Health Commissioner on reducing infant mortality in Baltimore City to the Surgeon General's target goal for Healthy People 2010 and endorsing the objective of National Infant Mortality Awareness Month to increase national awareness and to reduce the rate of infant mortality in this country, by 2010.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the CEO and Board Chair of the Baltimore City Healthy Start, Inc., the Baltimore City Health Commissioner, the CEO of the National Healthy Start Association, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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