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To recognize April as Minority Health Month and applaud the Columbus Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. for their efforts to reduce infant mortality in the City of Columbus and Central Ohio.
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WHEREAS, April 2017 has been recognized as National Minority Health Month, a time dedicated to “Bridging Health Equity Across Communities” - raising awareness regarding disease prevention; promoting healthy living; showcasing grassroots healthcare provider resources, highlighting health disparities; and exploring ongoing strategies to improve minority health; and
WHEREAS, Infant Mortality has been identified as a public health crisis in Columbus and Central Ohio - Each year in Franklin County, approximately 150 babies die before reaching their first birthday -moreover, Black babies in Ohio are dying at a rate which is twice that of White babies - In Columbus and Franklin County, much of this disparity is driven by babies being born too soon or too small, as well as babies being placed in unsafe sleeping conditions and or surfaces; and
WHEREAS, the men of the Columbus Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. embraced their national organization’s health and wellness initiative by adopting the “Safe Sleep Kappa Fatherhood Initiative” to teach fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other community stakeholders about ways to reduce Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related causes of infant death; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. has developed a grassroots effort to educate, train and facilitate a community based program whose main objective is to shrink the gap in the African American infant mortality rate - change the community conversation from the inside by discussing best practices, and partner with community stakeholders to reduce the social determinants associated with SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death; and
WHEREAS, nationally Kappa Alpha Psi has raised more than $350,000, selected over 289 Wellness Chairs and trained more than 3,450 of its members; and
WHEREAS, Kappa’s in Columbus and from around Ohio have worked with their national organization to form a number of key strategic partnerships to address the infant mortality crisis - some of these partners include but are not limited to: the National Healthy Start Association, SIDS Network of Ohio, the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood, Primary One Health Care, UPS, Molina Health Care, Aetna Health Care, Celebrate One, Care Source, United Health Care of Ohio, Buckeye Health Care, the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, Paramount, Columbus Integrated Health; the CJ Foundation for SIDS; the Ohio Department Health - Office of Medicare, the Howard University School of Nursing and others; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Alumni Chapter is committed to providing educational and training opportunities to local community organizations which include teaching on topics such as: the ABC’s of Safe Sleep, Safe Sleep Environments, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Shaken Baby Syndrome, Room Sharing, and working with local managed healthcare organizations to promote better prenatal and postpartum care; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council does hereby recognize April as Minority Health Month and applaud the Columbus Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. for their efforts to reduce infant mortality in the City of Columbus and Central Ohio.