Florida Family Network

The health and well being of a community can be measured by its infant mortality rate. Infant mortality is the death of a baby before his or her first birthday. The infant mortality rate is an estimate of the number of infant deaths for every 1,000 live births.

 

Since 2009, Florida Family Network’s (FFN) staff has been engaged with Florida communities (Gadsden, Hillsborough, and Leon counties), coalitions, partnerships, and collaboratives to support efforts preventing infant mortality and decreasing disparities. Persistent racial-ethnic disparities are of particular concern. The infant mortality rate for blacks is more than two times the rate for whites. There is growing evidence that suggests that higher infant mortality within a population is linked to that population’s overall health and development across the life course.

 

Our collaborative efforts in programs, services, research, education, training, and policy along with the engagement of women and mothers continue to make a difference in the awareness of the issue and preventing infant mortality. However, further reduction of preventable infant deaths remains a challenge. FFN, its partners, women and mothers are committed to making a positive difference in reducing deaths to infants.