LIHF Encourages Black Families to be Counted

The Census impacts policies that affect funding geared towards reducing infant mortality

The United States Census Bureau is the largest statistical agency of the federal government.  It provides facts and figures about people living in America (citizens or non-citizens) in addition to information about places and the economy overall.  Mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, the Census of Population and Housing counts every resident in the U.S. every 10 years. This survey asks a series of questions that impacts planning and policymaking for the next decade.  Specifically, data collected from the census determines distribution of Congressional seats to states. Census responses also drive important decisions regarding community services and funding allocation to areas such as education, transportation, and public health. 
 
One area of public health that is a key measure of the nation’s health is infant mortality.  Infant mortality is the death of an infant before the age of one (1) per 1,000 live births.  Infant mortality is reflective of socioeconomic conditions, maternal health, several public health practices, access to quality and affordable health care, and other factors.  Some of the leading causes of infant mortality, such as premature birth (babies born before 37 weeks), are preventable and can be addressed through public policy. 
 
The Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families (LIHF) was established to address the disproportionately high rates of infant mortality among African Americans in Wisconsin, which has one of the worst black infant mortality rates in the nation.  From 2015-2018, babies born to black mothers in Wisconsin were three times (3x) more likely to die before their first birthday than babies born to white mothers.
 
LIHF seeks to become the face and leading voice in infant mortality and healthy birth outcomes in Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha counties.  Policy and programs that LIHF is intentionally including as its strategies and focal points that have the potential to reduce infant mortality, and that are impacted by data collection methods such as the census include the following:
 

• Building community-based organization capacity to strengthen and encourage community leaders to engage local and state legislators to advance policy change and translate existing research findings for policymakers.
• Creating the LIHF Strategic Board (LSB), which will be proactive in convening multisector stakeholders and identifying priority activities, including policy and system change.
• Disseminating culturally appropriate communications and increasing social media strategies to educate and increase awareness on factors that contribute to poor birth outcomes.
• Discussing underlying causes of infant mortality by addressing chronic stress, racism, and social determinants of health.
• Supporting and conducting analysis of available data and other resources to improve data systems for measuring birth outcomes and health care access and quality, both of which are critical for informing policy and program decisions.
• Promoting collaboration across agencies and sectors at the local, state, and national levels to combine resources and expertise toward the common goal of reducing infant mortality

 
Everyone, especially people of color, needs to be counted in the 2020 Census!  Every individual is a major piece of the puzzle needed to strengthen our communities and families.  Please visit LIHF’s Facebook page: @LIHFProgramOffice and website: https://lihf.wisc.edu to stay abreast of our progress toward reducing infant mortality across Southeastern Wisconsin.