News Releases

The Center Joins Local Collaborative to Reduce Infant Mortality

The Center for Health Affairs is joining forces with leaders from local governments, foundations and hospitals to reduce infant mortality in Northeast Ohio. On Dec. 30, 2015, The Center and its member hospitals from the greater-Cleveland area will sign the Community Covenant to be a part of First Year Cleveland – a regional initiative to combat infant mortality.

Once the Covenant is signed, partners will assume their responsibilities as the Advisory Board of First Year Cleveland and establish a task force of community leaders including representatives from the healthcare sector, philanthropic community and also women and families directly affected by infant mortality. The task force will be responsible for the comprehensive planning and development of policies to reduce infant mortality.

During the time leading up to the signing of the Community Covenant, partners were busy advocating for funds to reduce infant mortality in the region. Just this fall, both the city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County announced they had budgeted money for these efforts – with the city making available $500,000 and the county budgeting $1.5 million through 2017. Additionally, several local foundations have announced grant-funded programs to address this issue. 

The Center is pleased to be a part of this Community Covenant, and is joined by its valued community partners, including: the city of Cleveland, the county of Cuyahoga, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, the University Hospital Health System, The MetroHealth System, Sisters of Charity Health System, the Cleveland Foundation, the George Gund Foundation, the Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation, and the Ohio Association of Health Plans.

For more information on the Community Covenant or The Center’s efforts to reduce infant mortality, please contact Tony Gutowski, government relations manager at 216.255.3610 or via email.