Infant Mortality Prevention

Addressing Infant Mortality in the Atlanta Perinatal Region:

Collaborative Assessment & Strategic Planning 2017

In 2016, the Georgia Department of Public Health announced their project, Building Capacity to Address Infant Mortality in Georgia: A Collaborative Mini-Grant Program. Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia was one of five community-based partners to be awarded a grant through this initiative, specifically to address infant mortality rates in the Atlanta Perinatal Region.

The Project

Of all states, Georgia ranks 47th (2015) for infant mortality. In collaboration with the Georgia Health Policy Center of Georgia State University, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia convened key stakeholders in the Atlanta Perinatal Region in 2017 in order to:

• Identify current programming that addresses both the direct and systemic causes of infant mortality;

• Better understand the gaps in resources, services and/or programming in the region that would help to reduce instances of infant mortality;

• Build consensus around the priority programming, resources and interventions that would best address infant mortality in the region;

• Develop and finalize a strategic plan with actionable steps to reducing instances of infant mortality in the region.

Counties Included in the Atlanta Perinatal Region

Dade, Walker, Catoosa, Whitfield, Murray, Fannin, Union, Towns, Rabun, Habersham, White, Lumpkin, Gilmer, Gordon, Chattooga, Pickens, Dawson, Hall, Banks, Stephens, Hart, Franklin, Forsyth, Cherokee, Bartow, Floyd, Polk, Haralson, Paulding, Cobb, Gwinnett, Douglas, Fulton, Fayette, Clayton, Henry, Newton, Rockdale, & DeKalb. Of these 39 counties, 23 were above the national infant mortality rate between 2005-2015.

Please visit the Department of Public Health to view a full map of the Georgia Perinatal Regions

The Process

We convened more than 85 stakeholders throughout the region, including hospitals, clinics, state agencies, professional provider associations, care management organizations, and experts from local, state and national organizations focused on maternal and infant health. The inputs garnered from their responses to an initial survey, as well as their decision-making processes throughout three convening sessions in May and June of 2017 have provided the basis for the Strategic Plan to Address Infant Mortality in the Atlanta Perinatal Region.

The public comment period closed on December 4, 2017. Thank you to all stakeholders who provided commentary.

About the Georgia Health Policy Center

The Georgia Health Policy Center, established in 1995, provides evidence-based research, program development, and policy guidance to improve health status at the community level. The center conducts, analyzes, and disseminates qualitative and quantitative findings to connect decision makers with the objective research and guidance needed to make informed decisions about health policy and programs. Learn more>

This project was made possible by a grant from the Department of Public Health, supported by the Healthcare Georgia Foundation.