WASHINGTON - Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) announced today that the Genessee County Health Department has been awarded a $750,000 Healthy Start grant to help eliminate disparities in perinatal health services for African-American families in the Flint area.  The Maternal and Child Health Bureau, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, awarded this grant to the Genesee County Public Health Department to help reduce the infant mortality rate of African-American babies in Flint. 

“The Healthy Start program has made tremendous progress in reducing infant mortality by providing pregnant women with vital resources and services”, said Kildee.  “We must work together to provide funding and access to services that will reverse the high infant mortality rate among African-American populations in this area.”

The Genesee County Health Department will use these funds to finance essential activities and programs that focus on providing pregnant women with a medical support team and vital maternal education.  The Healthy Start project will be enhanced by several joint projects with non-profit and government agencies in Genesee County and the entire state of Michigan.  Funds awarded under this grant will provide services to both mother and infant for two years following delivery to promote longer interconceptional periods and to prevent relapses of unhealthy risk behaviors. All of these public health strategies have been proven to be effective in reducing infant mortality. 

This will mark the fifth consecutive year of funding for the Healthy Start program in Genesee County due to Congressman Kildee’s efforts.  Previously, Kildee had secured a four-year, $3 million grant for the program in 2001.