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It's a New Day in Public Health.

The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

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Healthy Moms & Babies

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “the infant mortality rate is an important marker of the overall health of a society” (2022). The group’s priority areas include breastfeeding, eliminating the Black-White infant mortality gap, and reducing the overall infant mortality rate.

Community Champions

Ardelle Bush, Healthy Start Coalition of Okaloosa and Walton Counties

Crystal Harrison, Homelessness and Housing Alliance

Goals, Objectives and Strategies

Goal 1: To reduce the infant mortality rate.

  • Objective 1.1: By December 31, 2025, reduce the Black-White infant mortality gap from a rate of 9.6 per 1,000 live births to 8.8 per 1,000 live births.

    • Strategy 1.1.1: To promote best practices in prenatal, infant, and maternal care in Okaloosa County.

    • Strategy 1.1.2: : To distribute Recipe for aHealthy Baby materials to key audiences.

    • Strategy 1.1.3: To promote comprehensive breastfeeding policies through the Health  Okaloosa Worksites program and Florida Breastfeeding Friendly Employer Award.
  • Objective 2: By December 31, 2027, reduce the overall infant mortality rate from 5.1 per 1,000 live births to 4.2 per 1,000 live births.*
    • *This objective utilizes the same strategies as Objective 1.1 above.

  • Objective 3: By December 31, 2025, reduce the Black-White preterm birth gap from 4.4 per 1,000 live births to 2.4 per 1,000 live births.

    • Strategy 1.1.1: To promote best practices in prenatal, infant, and maternal care.
    • Strategy 1.1.2: To educate the community about maternal advocacy.
    • *Strategy 1.1.3: To improve awareness of the risks of smoking while pregnant and promote local cessation resources.

  • Objective 4: By December 31, 2027, reduce the Black-White low birth weight gap from 3.8 per 1,000 live births to 3.5 per 1,000 live births.*

    • *This objective utilizes the same strategies as Objective 1.3 above

Meeting Minutes