A coalition of community partners that hopes to lower Lane County's disturbingly high rate of fetal and infant deaths is using a quote from American social reformer Julia Lathrop to help people understand the importance of the problem.Byline: The Register-Guard A coalition of community partners that hopes to lower Lane County's disturbingly high rate of fetal and infant deaths Noun 1. infant death - sudden and unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant during sleep cot death, crib death, SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome is using a quote from American social reformer Julia Lathrop Julia Lathrop (June 29, 1858 - April 15, 1932), was an American social reformer. The daughter of William Lathrop, she was born in Rockford, Illinois. Julia's father had helped establish the Republican Party and served in the state legislature (1856-57) and Congress (1877-79). to help people understand the importance of the problem: "Infant mortality (hardware) infant mortality - It is common lore among hackers (and in the electronics industry at large) that the chances of sudden hardware failure drop off exponentially with a machine's time since first use (that is, until the relatively distant time at which enough mechanical is the most sensitive index we possess of social welfare," Lathrop said way back in 1913, just after President William Howard Taft appointed her to head the newly created Children's Bureau The Children's Bureau may refer to:
Though much has changed in the century since Lathrop began her pioneering advocacy for improvements to infant and maternal health Maternal health care is a concept that encompasses preconception, prenatal, and postnatal care. Goals of preconception care can include providing health promotion, screening and interventions for women of reproductive age to reduce risk factors that might affect future pregnancies. , her insights into the connection between the health of a community's babies and the overall health of its residents remain remarkably valid today. That adds a level of urgency to the Lane County Fetal-Infant Mortality Initiative, which is faced with an "index of social welfare" that requires immediate attention. Lane County's overall fetal-infant mortality rate - the number of babies who die anywhere from the 24th week of pregnancy to one year of age - is higher than the nation's; higher than the state of Oregon's; higher than in Multnomah, Clackamas or Washington counties Washington County is the name of 30 counties and one parish in the United States of America, all named for George Washington. It is the most common county name in the United States. ; and higher than in the Portland metropolitan area The Portland-Vancouver, Oregon-Washington, Metropolitan Statistical Area, also known as the Portland metropolitan area or Greater Portland, is an urban area in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington centered around the city of Portland, Oregon. . In a county that's home to a major research university, excellent hospitals, an educated population, extensive social service organizations and a large urban center, babies are dying at a higher rate than anywhere else in Oregon. The Fetal-Infant Mortality Initiative brought public health and health care organizations together to analyze data and devise a strategy to address the problem. They found that in a five-year span, there were 68 fetal-infant deaths that potentially could have been prevented. Just as important, the nature of the deaths suggests a broader problem in Lane County, one that reveals a much larger population of children who need help. Right now, Lane County has more than 1,000 children in foster care or other out-of-home placement, many as a direct result of parental drug use. These kids start out with two strikes against them. Half will never be reunited "Reunited" was a #1 hit in the United States in 1979 by the Washington, D.C.-based group Peaches & Herb. Preceded by "Heart of Glass" by Blondie Billboard Hot 100 number one single May 5 1979 Succeeded by "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer with their families. The traumatic interruption of the normal parent-child bonding process almost guarantees that many of these kids will struggle in school due to problems with emotional control and poor social skills. The good news is that there are proven strategies for addressing the problem. Unfortunately, the strategies cost money that Lane County doesn't have and isn't going to get unless grants or other contributions can be found. The PacificSource Foundation deserves a huge round of applause for stepping up with a $25,000 grant that will allow Lane County to begin a crucial Fetal-Infant Mortality Review. But a full FIMR FIMR Finnish Institute of Marine Research FIMR Fetal Infant Mortality Review FIMR Feinstein Institute for Medical Research (Manhasset, New York) FIMR Center for Finance, Investment Management and Research study will cost about $150,000, and so far, other grant applications haven't been successful. That means the community needs to do more. Lane County's "index of social welfare" doesn't reflect the level of health our babies and mothers deserve. It's something we can, and should, change. |
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