Evaluating Plan for the North Carolina Healthy Start Baby Love Plus Reducing Racial Disparities in Infant Mortality in North Carolina

The purpose of this research is to continue the ongoing evaluation of the North Carolina Healthy Start Initiative, currently in seven rural Eastern counties and five rural counties in the Northeastern region of the State. This infant mortality reduction initiative of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Women’s and Children’s Health, funded by the federal Division of Healthy Start of the Health Resources and Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services, enhances the current North Carolina Baby Love Program offered in geographic areas of high minority infant mortality. This initiative was designed for reducing racial disparities in infant mortality through enhanced community capacity, responsibility, and ownership of infant mortality reduction efforts and enhanced individual perinatal services.

Principal Investigator: Julia L. DeClerque, Dr.P.H.

Funding Source: North Carolina Dept of Health and Human Services via Maternal and Child Health Bureau

Total Project Period: 12/1/09 – 1/31/15