Historical Highlights

March, 1992

Franklin County Leadership Council to Reduce Infant Mortality held its' first meeting. Original planning partners: Columbus Health Department, Children's Hospital and March of Dimes. Governance through the "Conveners" - the original planners and the Columbus Medical Association, Doctors Hospital, Grant/Riverside Hospitals, Mt. Carmel Health System and The Ohio State University Hospital. Projects Teams were developed to address significant issues.
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1992-1994

The "Cooperative Continuum of Care" Team assessed referral patterns between OB and Pediatric providers; developed a position paper on the use of Nurse Practitioners; educated physician groups on Medicaid reimbursement policies and procedures. 1995 Part time coordinator hired (1995-99). In September, fifteen (15) OB providers participated in a "Barriers to Care" survey for all new prenatal care patients. Issues identified were shared with clinic administrators and managers and Council members. Activities to reduce barriers were implemented.
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1995-1997

A Team focused on the impact of early discharge practices on postpartum women and newborns. Tools were developed for data collection; resources identified and shared with Council members, a fact sheet was developed and distributed; meeting held with the Ohio Department of Insurance and Senator Grace Drake's aide to report on the impact of the law and obtain clarifications for providers and information was shared with Council members and providers. May, 1997 A "Back to Sleep" campaign implemented following months of planning including surveying new mothers in maternity hospitals and pregnant women in prenatal clinics. Resolutions passed by City Council and the Franklin County Board of Commissioners.
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Late 1996-1999

A Southside neighborhood focus was implemented to respond to high infant mortality rates and community receptiveness. Accomplishments included the following: Provider survey; data collection and sharing with community residents; a "Community Talk" was held in Sept. 1997 with 40 community members attending; community leader meetings; development and distribution of a community resource directory; development of a "Lay Health Advocate Program" through Maryhaven called Stable Cradle.
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Early 2000-2001

Strategic planning with Ms. Marty Miller of the Center for Urban Progress. Funding provided by City Council through the leadership of Council Member Charleta Tavares.
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Summer 2001

The Council on Healthy Mothers and Babies is born. New Council Coordinator hired (Angela Sausser-Short). Waiting time surveys continue with expanded reporting format.
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Early 2002

As a result of funding from the Columbus Health Department's Caring for 2 program, OB providers from the hospitals, Columbus Neighborhood Health Centers and the Columbus Health Department began meeting to discuss the feasibility of implementing a first prenatal care appointment scheduling system.
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August, 2002

Healthy Mothers and Babies fund established at the Columbus Medical Association Foundation.
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August, 2002

Planning to develop the first prenatal care appointment system, called the Pregnancy Care Connection began.
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September 2002

Paperwork submitted to become a 501 (c) 3. Several months of reduced fee legal advice provided by Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP.
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Early 2003

The Council received its' 501 (c)(3) status.
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February, 2003

As a result of information learned from the Perinatal Periods of Risk Analysis (that SIDS among African American babies is a significant cause of death), the Council held its' first meeting of the SIDS campaign Task Force.
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June, 2003

In partnership with Caring for 2, a 2-day training conference with nationally recognized Dr. Ira Chasnoff on the effects of AOD on pregnancy and children was presented. Providers are meeting to meet to follow-up on addressing AOD use effects on pregnant women and children.
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August, 2003

Pregnancy Care Connection line opened and the Intake Specialist, Teresa Finan-Fresneda was hired. Official kick-off will be held September 16th at the Columbus Health Department. Council Member Charleta Tavares attended and spoke at the kickoff. The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio NPR, and CBS Channel 10tv News covered the event.
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September 2003

The Council expanded its' Board in order to be more broadly representative in order to achieve the mission.
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April, 2004

The Council's SIDS Campaign Task Force developed and began distributing 20,000 educational SIDS Brochures for Grandparents.
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