Infant mortality is a measure of population health and how a community, state, or nation is faring in caring for the most vulnerable in society. Infant health is inseparable from maternal health and maternal health is inseparable from a woman’s health and well-being before, during, and after pregnancy. St. Joseph County Department of Health (SJCDoH) Maternal Infant Health Initiatives are focused on community action built around three key areas that will lead to a reduction in infant mortality and the elimination of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in infant and maternal health.
These areas include:
- Systems, Policy, and Legislation: to address the structural and social determinants of health.
- Healthcare Institutions and Maternal Child Health professionals: to improve quality, address implicit bias, and facilitate collaboration with community based care through relationship building and consultation with providers and hospital systems.
- Women, Infants, Fathers, Families, and Community: to facilitate engagement into community needs, solutions, and participation in community led action.
The focus of our community action priorities are based on the recommendations and review of more than 220 stories of infant and fetal loss studied by the Fetal Infant Mortality Review Case Review Team since 2016.
- Maternal Infant Health Initiatives Recommendations and Community Action 2021-2022
- Thank You Slides for Achieving Birth Equity Conference July 2022
- Fetal Infant Mortality Review FIMR Annual Report 2015-2019 Data
- Fetal Infant Mortality Review FIMR Annual Report 2016-2020 Data
- Indiana Department of Health Maternal Mortality Review Committee 2022 Report
- Annual Report to the Community 2018
- St. Joseph County FIMR Annual Report August 2018
- SJCDoH MIHI Birth Equity Assessment
- SJCDoH Maternal Infant Health Initiatives Report Comunity Action Data 2023
Contact Us
Renata Williams, MPH, Director of CARE (Community Access, Resource, & Education)
Email
Phone
Office: (574) 235-9750, Ext. 7969
Cell: (574) 876-2000
Quisha Jordan, BS, RN, Maternal/Infant Health Coordinator
Email
Cell Phone: (574) 250-8680
- Connections During Pregnancy
Having a baby? Get connected early for any needs that come up during your pregnancy like help with insurance, connecting to a doctor or midwife, help to quit smoking, breastfeeding support, mental health care, housing, supplies, and more.
- Safe Sleep for Babies
Expecting or caring for a baby? Take these steps to help baby sleep safely and reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Count the Kicks!
Movement Matters!
A baby's movements are an important sign of their well-being in the 3rd trimester. Get to know what's normal for your baby using the FREE Count the Kicks pregnancy app.
- Birth Equity & Justice St. Joseph County
Committed to achieving birth equity in St. Joseph County, through community based action.
- Resources for Before, During, and after Pregnancy
Pregnancy is an exciting time. Knowing that you are doing all you can to stay healthy during pregnancy and give your baby a healthy start in life will help you to have peace of mind. Visit this website for more resources!
- Lead Exposure Prevention for New Parents
The St. Joseph County Department of Health wants to make Lead Poisoning Prevention as easy as 1-2-3!
1. Pregnant clients scan our QR Code to check their lead risk. We’ll take over from there!
2. Clients receive a lead risk profile specific to pregnancy and lead poisoning education materials. We’ll follow up with ways to mitigate risk and make the home baby safe.
3. When risk is identified, our certified assessors offer free home risk assessments. If lead hazards are found, we provide tips to lower the risk. Our goal, like yours, is to keep babies Safe at Home!
- E.M.B.E.R.
The St. Joseph County Department of Health is excited to introduce our new initiative, EMBER: Empowering Moms and Babies through Education and Resilience.
Join us at The Beacon Resource Center for a FREE series of maternal health classes tailored for every stage of pregnancy. EMBER also offers a biweekly peer support group, providing a welcoming space to openly discuss life after childbirth. Women at all stages of pregnancy are welcome. Contact us for more information, or sign up today!
The classes start on September 10, 2024, and run through December 17, 2024 (every Tuesday night).