Connecticut is among four states have selected by the National Governors Association to participate in its Learning Network on Improving Birth Outcomes. The Learning Network is designed to assist states in developing, implementing and aligning their key policies and initiatives related to improving birth outcomes, particularly in minority racial and ethnic communities.*
Connecticut’s participation in this initiative will build on recent previous activities conducted within DPH, including selection to participate in an Action Learning Collaborative on the effects of racism on birth outcomes, as well as a training program called the National Leadership Academy for the Public’s Health on the topic of maternal and infant health.
The Department of Public Health officials have already noted that premature births “occur in the Black/African American community at a rate 1.5 times higher than that in the White/Caucasian community,” a disparity that has not changed in the last 10 years.
“Participation in the Learning Network will help Connecticut achieve a recent challenge among State and Territorial Health Officers to reduce preterm births by 8% by 2014, as well as our goal to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in early preterm births,” said DPH Commissioner Dr. Jewel Mullen. “Through this unique opportunity with the NGA, we expect to learn effective strategies and best practices for coordinating activities across agencies and accelerate the pace of improving birth outcomes and reducing newborn hospitalization costs.”
To learn more, readers can contact the Department of Health at 410 Capital Ave., Hartford, CT 06134 860 508-8000.
For a related article see http://www.examiner.com/review/ynhh-receives-35-000-grant-to-help-reduce...
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