Informational conference hosted to discuss local infant mortality rates

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The St. Joseph County Health Department hosted a conference at the Century Center on Thursday to share ideas and initiatives that could lower infant mortality rates locally.

The national goal is to lower the infant mortality rate to five deaths for every 1,000 live births. However, that rate is currently three times higher for black mothers in St. Joseph County.

Thursday’s conference gave local leaders an opportunity to communicate how the county can begin to progress towards the national goal.

“We have all passed the same way. All of us. And, that’s what equity is about. Everybody in this room has passed the same way and we all deserve to live and to thrive, right? The most delicate of us, the most delicate among us are depending on us to do everything that we can to uphold life,” said Kelli Brien of Mahogany Maternity.

Experts that were present say that more minority representation is needed in the healthcare industry to help combat these statistics.