Nashville, Tenn. (TN Tribune)-In July, the Metro Public Health Department (MPHD) announced that services through the Nashville Strong Babies program, the community’s HRSA Healthy Start program, will now be available countywide. The program offers care coordination, education and other resources and services to new and expecting mothers from pregnancy through the first 18 months of a baby’s life. Participants must live in Davidson County to qualify for the program.
“We know we get strong babies, babies that are born at healthy birth weights and full gestation, when we have strong moms”, said D’Yuanna Allen-Robb, Assistant Bureau Director of Population Health at the Metro Public Health Department. “We get strong moms when we have strong families, communities and policies.”
Nashville Strong Babies was introduced in 2019 in seven zip codes across Nashville where infant mortality rates were highest. Since its inception, the program has supported more than 1,300 families with no maternal deaths. A five percent reduction in infant deaths has been observed across Davidson County since the program was implemented.
Those who are interested in participating in the program can contact the Metro Public Health Department’s central referral line at 615-880-2187. For more information on other family health initiatives can be found at Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health.
