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September 2022
Volume 8 | Issue No. 61
M
aternal and infant health are a national concern as
mortality rates – and racial disparities within these —
continue to climb. To reduce these rates, organizations are
focusing on whole-person approaches to family health
that center birthing parents and address more than just
physical care.
The Maternal Health Webinar Series offered by the Health
Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) explores
the disparities in maternal and infant health and potential
solutions to improve these gaps. Advancing Maternal
Health, featuring speakers from Nurture KC and Healthy
Birth Day, Inc., discussed evidence-based approaches to
improving maternal and infant health outcomes.
Nurture KC: Offering Families a Healthy Start
Nurture KC is a bi-state organization with services available
in both Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri. The
organization serves 14 target zip codes across Wyandotte
County, Kansas and Jackson County, Missouri where infant
mortality rates are highest.
Nurture KC began as a coalition of volunteers in response
to a 1983 report on high infant mortality rates in Kansas
City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri. Today, their mission
is to reduce infant death and improve family health
across the KC metro area. To achieve this, they offer three
approaches:
• The Mid-America Immunization Coalition (MAIC), a bi-
state group dedicated to disease prevention.
• The Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR), which identifies
trends in fetal and infant losses and recommends actions
to improve.
• Healthy Start Initiative, a federal grant program that
employs a community health worker (CHW) model to
assist families from preconception through 18 months of
life for the baby.
These approaches work collaboratively to identify and
address gaps in the health care system and treat family
health as a continuum. Together, these approaches
support expecting families by providing direct services
and resources that improve maternal and infant health.
"We are an organization that is committed to reducing
infant mortality in Kansas City," said Tracy Russell, executive
director of Nurture KC. "What we've seen is in Missouri we
rank within the bottom ten states in the country."
Shannon Williams, program director of Nurture KC's
Healthy Start Initiative, believes the flagship program's
unique CHW model is key to its success in advancing
health among families across the KC metro area.
"The goal of Healthy Start programs is to improve birth
outcomes in the communities that we serve," Russell said.
"We do that by addressing both their health and social
service needs for not only mom, but baby, child, and the
male involved partner to complete whole family wellness."
Parenthood can be challenging and expecting parents
aren't always sure of what to do, what they need, or
where they can go for help. The CHW model offered by
Healthy Start provides parents with a confidant to help
address fears, reduce anxieties, and offer advice. CHWs
also help connect parents to direct services and resources
as needed.
The Healthy Start program is free with very few enrollment
requirements. Program participants must be pregnant
still and live within the target zip codes. However, Nurture
KC makes exceptions for the zip code requirement if the
birthing parent is living in a shelter, as they are considered
high-risk.
A total of eight CHWs, some of whom also speak Spanish,
are available to offer home visits to program participants.
The program recently received a scholarship that also
allows all CHWs to train to become certified lactation
counselors, in addition to their extensive training.
The program is offered through three organizations: Nurture
KC, Swope Health, and KC Care Health Center.
On average, one out of every 169 pregnancies nationally will end in stillbirth. One out of
every 204 pregnancies among white mothers will end in stillbirth. Racial disparities that
affect maternal and infant mortality rates also persist in stillbirth rates. Among Black
mothers, one out of every 96 pregnancies end in stillbirth. Among Hispanic moms, one out
of every 199 pregnancie
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