Title
To recognize the Ohio Institute of Equity in Birth Outcomes and Dr. Arthur James for their efforts to reduce infant mortality rates and decrease racial disparities.
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Department of Health and CityMatCH, a national maternal child health organization that specializes in improving infant mortality in urban areas, has come together to form the Ohio Institute of Equity in Birth Outcomes; and
WHEREAS, this collaboration is a first of its kind venture that brings together several cities in Ohio for in-depth instruction on understanding infant mortality and developing intervention strategies for specific communities; and
WHEREAS, the Ohio Institute for Equity in Birth Outcomes is part of a national movement of urban communities that will bring a scientific focus to increasing equity in birth outcomes; and
WHEREAS, in Franklin County, nearly 150 infants die each year and African-American babies die at more than twice the rate of other babies; and
WHEREAS, in response the City of Columbus and Columbus Public Health have worked to address these issues with, The Action Learning Collaborative, Racism and Infant Mortality Tool Kit, Caring for 2 program and by supporting prenatal care at Maryhaven's Women Center and providing additional funding for nurses visits to mothers with newborns less than six weeks old; and
WHEREAS, together under the leadership of Dr. Arthur James, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at The Ohio State University, CityMatCH and the Ohio Department of Health will address these issues as part of a three year State wide collaboration to nurture the healthy development of our babies; and
WHEREAS, the Ohio Institute of Equity in Birth Outcomes will hold their kickoff event to in Columbus at the Lincoln Theater on July 23rd 2013; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby recognize the Ohio Institute of Equity in Birth and Dr. Arthur James for their efforts to reduce infant mortality rates and decrease racial disparities.