About First year cleveland
First Year Cleveland: Mobilizing the Community to Reduce Infant Deaths
First Year Cleveland is a non-profit organization that aims to reduce infant deaths in the city of Cleveland, Ohio. The organization was founded in 2015 and has since been working tirelessly to mobilize the community through partnerships and a unified strategy.
Infant mortality is a serious issue in Cleveland, with rates higher than both state and national averages. In fact, according to data from the Ohio Department of Health, Cuyahoga County (where Cleveland is located) had an infant mortality rate of 8.9 per 1,000 live births in 2019. This means that nearly nine out of every 1,000 babies born in Cuyahoga County do not make it to their first birthday.
First Year Cleveland recognizes that this issue disproportionately affects Black families and communities. In fact, Black infants are more than twice as likely as White infants to die before their first birthday. This racial disparity is unacceptable and First Year Cleveland is committed to addressing it head-on.
The organization's approach involves bringing together community partners from various sectors including healthcare providers, social service agencies, faith-based organizations, government entities and more. By working collaboratively with these partners towards a common goal - reducing infant deaths - First Year Cleveland believes they can make significant progress.
One key aspect of First Year Cleveland's work involves providing education and resources for expectant mothers and families with young children. They offer programs such as Safe Sleep education which teaches parents how to create safe sleep environments for their babies; CenteringPregnancy which provides group prenatal care; home visiting programs which provide support for new parents; breastfeeding support groups; car seat safety checks; among others.
Another important component of First Year Cleveland's strategy involves improving access to quality healthcare services for pregnant women and infants. They work closely with healthcare providers throughout the city to ensure that all women have access to prenatal care early on in their pregnancies, and that infants receive timely and appropriate medical care.
First Year Cleveland also recognizes the importance of addressing social determinants of health - factors such as poverty, housing instability, food insecurity, and racism that can impact a person's health outcomes. They work with community partners to address these issues through initiatives such as providing affordable housing options for families with young children; increasing access to healthy foods in underserved neighborhoods; and advocating for policies that promote equity and justice.
Overall, First Year Cleveland's mission is an ambitious one - to reduce infant deaths in the city of Cleveland by 40% by the year 2025. While this goal may seem daunting, the organization is making progress towards achieving it. In fact, according to their most recent annual report (covering 2019), they saw a 10% reduction in infant deaths from the previous year.
If you're looking for ways to get involved with First Year Cleveland's mission, there are many opportunities available. You can volunteer your time or donate money to support their programs and initiatives. You can also help spread awareness about infant mortality rates in Cleveland and advocate for policies that promote equity and justice.
In conclusion, First Year Cleveland is an organization doing important work towards reducing infant deaths in one of America's most populous cities. Their approach involves mobilizing community partners from various sectors towards a common goal - improving maternal and child health outcomes. By providing education and resources for expectant mothers/families with young children; improving access to quality healthcare services; addressing social determinants of health; among other strategies - they are making progress towards achieving their ambitious goal of reducing infant deaths by 40% by 2025.