Mission

Mission


Click the image above to view the General Awareness: Stakeholder Brochure
"To provide committed, caring leadership to empower neighborhoods and communities and to build self-esteem through education, collaboration, and partnerships, resulting in access to health services, resources and information to promote healthy families and reduce infant mortality."

Babies First reaches out to neighborhoods throughout the Fresno, Clovis and Pinedale areas. Whether African American, Latina, Southeast Asian, Caucasian or Native American, teenage or older, pregnant women get the care they need to have a healthy baby.

Health Start Initiative

In 2005, Fresno County received a third four year Healthy Start Grant to reduce infant mortality and other perinatal health disparities. To qualify for the grant, the application required a review of infant mortality rates by census tract throughout Fresno County. The project area selected had an overall infant mortality rate of 9.6 per 1,000 births, compared to the County rate of 6.3 per 1,000 births and the state rate of 5.5.

Low birthweight is the leading cause of death during the neonatal period. Contributing factors to low birthweight include inadequate parental care, smoking, alcohol, illicit drug use and poor nutrition.

Fresno County's Babies First Program has released a report on the four year grant: Fresno County Babies First Executive Summary, 2001 – 2005. This report provides an overview of the significant improvements in maternal health, birth outcomes and infant care among Babies First Program clients.

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