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Empowering moms – and dads – in the black infant mortality crisis
Stacy Scott spent 17 years working on safe sleep campaigns at the federal level before starting the Global Infant Safe Sleep Center.
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Priska Neely/KPCC
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After Stacy Scott gave a presentation about safe sleep during a church service at Family Baptist Church in Toledo, this dad approached her for more information.
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Priska Neely/KPCC
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Members of the Toledo chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi during a presentation on infant mortality rates and safe sleep practices.
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Priska Neely/KPCC
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Listen
4:55
Empowering moms – and dads – in the black infant mortality crisis
Black babies in the United States are twice as likely to die before their first birthday as white babies. Across the country, researchers, health professionals and community organizers are trying, in ways big and small, to change that.
Ohio has some of the highest infant mortality rates in the country, and in Toledo, black infants are three times as likely to die. Community organizations are focusing on tangible things that black moms and dads can to help.
While most of the black babies who die are born premature, there are also higher rates for sleep-related deaths as babies grow.
"We always worked with moms and babes," said Stacy Scott, founder of the Global Infant Safe Sleep Center. "But I thought it would be great to be able to bring the dad into the conversation."
Sponsored message
Through a partnership with the black fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi, thousands of men across the country are getting training to be ambassadors.
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Read more from this series on LAist:
- America's Black Babies Are Paying For Society's Ills. What Will We Do To Fix It?
- Keeping Black Babies Alive Is A Priority For LA's Top Health Officials
- These People Have Dedicated Their Lives To Keeping Black Babies Alive
- Black Babies Die At Twice The Rate Of White Babies. My Family Is Part Of This Statistic
This project received support from the Center for Health Journalism's California Fellowship and its Fund for Journalism on Child Well-being.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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