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Infant Mortality Subject Of Traveling City Hall

Tackling the area’s high infant mortality rate is the goal of a traveling city hall this Saturday in Evansville. 

Vanderburgh County health officials will present their Pre-to-3 Program at Saturday’s city hall. It’s a preventative program for families with a baby under 90 days old or who are expecting.   

As part of the program, a health worker visits the families every week.

"And in that process," Program Coordinator Sophie French said, "they’re learning a lot about health pregnancy, parent-child bonding, how to play with their baby."

French said the program only been around for six months, but it has already passed its enrollment goal for the first year with 75 families participating.

There is no cost for the families. “This program is free so you can’t beat free,” French said.

Indiana has the highest infant mortality rate in the Midwest, at seven and a half deaths for every 1000 live births.

“Infant mortality is a direct reflection of how healthy our community is," said Lynn Herr, director of clinical and outreach programs at the county health department.

She said the county has additional programs to address some of the factors behind the high infant mortality rate, like smoking, obesity, and poor sleep practices.

Herr hopes to see a jump in referrals after Saturday’s city hall. The event is 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Eastland Mall. There will be drawings for prizes.