Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW) proposes the continuation of the Health Resources & Human Services Administration (HRSA) Healthy Start Initiative: Eliminating Disparities in Perinatal Health. We aim to reduce infant mortality and adverse perinatal outcomes in urban West Louisville, covering five zip codes (40203, 40208, 40210, 40211, 40212, and 40215). We propose to provide programs and services to help support mothers, fathers, and their families living in our targeted communities through all parenting stages: preconception to pregnancy to postpartum and between pregnancies, and during a child’s first 18 months of life. Louisville Metro Healthy Start (LMHS) will serve no less than 250 pregnant women; 175 infants/children up to 18 months; preconception women and interconception women (combined); and 25 father/male partners affiliated with LMHS women and infants. In addition, through group education, we will provide services to an additional 250 individuals. The LMHS program aims to reduce differences in perinatal health outcomes for Non-Hispanic Black (Black) mothers in Louisville Metro, Kentucky. The proposed target area is a geographical continuation of the LMHS community served in previous years. While infant mortality has slowly declined due to HRSA-funded Healthy Start Programs, pre-term births, low birth weights, and infant mortality disproportionately affect Black mothers, babies, and families in LMHS-supported communities. From 2019-2021, there were 56 infant deaths out of 4,335 live births in the LMHS project area. The infant mortality rate among Black births (15.34) in West Louisville neighborhoods is more than double the rate (4.98) in the Metro area. Babies born in the project area also suffer higher rates of low birth weights and miscarriages. Racial disparities also continue to persist in teen pregnancy. Black teens in the LMHS project area are giving birth at a rate 2.95 times higher than Non-Hispanic White (White) teens. LMPHW proposes strengthening its existing infrastructure and relationships to deliver evidence-based approaches to improving women’s health, family health, and wellness and promoting systems change. To address a significant, complex social problem such as reducing infant mortality with a health equity lens, LMPHW will continue to mobilize our Community Consortium and Healthy Babies Louisville, implementing social and environmental policies and achieving a collective impact in our communities. By following the nationally accepted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) six-step program evaluation framework, we will increase the program's accountability through quality improvement, performance monitoring, and evaluation.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
