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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...
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