Health

Improve infant mortality rates in families of color and low-income families to 6.0 per 1,000 live births by 2025.

• Physical, mental and behavioral health for families and infants
• Awareness, education, and engagement.

Regionally, infant mortality rates for families of color and low-income families are high and continue to climb. Infant mortality rates (the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births) measure how well a community takes care of its youngest members and all residents.

United Way supports programs that bring care into the homes of vulnerable families. We work with local and regional collaboratives; hold community-wide events, such as a diaper drive, to raise awareness of infant mortality; and we’ve invested in substance abuse and mental health treatment to improve the safety and stability of infants’ homes. For more ACTION examples, visit our PARTNERS & PROGRAMS page.

85% of African-American mothers in United Way funded programs in 2017 gave birth to an infant of healthy weight.