REACH Project in Worcester combats infant mortality

• Posted by Health News October 1, 2020 - Filed in Health - #City of Worcester  #infant mortality  - 2,655 views

  Partnership promotes resources for mothers, infant breastfeeding

  Worcester – September is National Infant Mortality Awareness Month, a serious issue that affects our nation’s health. The City of Worcester’s REACH project, a partnership between the Worcester Division of Public Health and the Worcester healthy Baby Collaborative, is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (CDC REACH). The public is invited to learn more ways to combat infant mortality through the health benefits of breastfeeding and take advantage of the free resources in the City this month, including a virtual Infant Mortality Summit on Tuesday, Sept. 29, bringing together clinicians and mothers from our community.

  Breastfeeding improves the health, development and survival of women, infants and children. Breastmilk promotes sensory and cognitive development, and protects the infant against infectious and chronic diseases. Exclusive breastfeeding reduces infant mortality due to common childhood illnesses such as diarrhea or pneumonia, and helps for a quicker recovery during illness. 

  One of the Worcester REACH project’s initiatives is focused on breastfeeding support, which includes providing assistance and education to local clinics and hospitals who serve women who are pregnant and/or able to breastfeed in our community, improving the availability of resources for breastfeeding, and advocating for the importance of support needed from family, friends, employers and the community at large for breastfeeding.

  “The data shows us how critically important breastfeeding is to the overall health and wellbeing of the mother and their infant,” Worcester Health & Human Services Commissioner Dr. Matilde Castiel said. “In Worcester, we see high infant mortality rates, and a disparity when it comes to pregnant women of color. We need to end these disparities and make sure we are providing the support and resources necessary to bring our infant mortality rates down, such as stressing the importance of breastfeeding.”

  2020 Certified Lactation Counselors (CLCs) Scholarship Recipients

  In July, the Worcester Healthy Baby Collaborative (WHBC) collaborated with Worcester REACH to create a scholarship opportunity for individuals with a passion for increasing the capacity of breastfeeding support provided to the Latino community in Worcester. These selected individuals were offered scholarship funding to become Certified Lactation Counselors (CLCs) with Healthy Children’s online project training.

  For more information, please contact: worcesterhealthybaby@gmail.com.

  Family Health Center Baby Cafe

  • Free access to breastfeeding support in the community
  • Guidance for pregnant people who are planning to breastfeed
  • The chance to meet other new parents
  • Support for pumping and return to work
  • Interpreter services
  • Available on Zoom (Meeting ID: 995 9032 7366)
  • Open Wednesdays and Fridays 10 a.m. - Noon

  For more information, please call: 508-860-7721.

  WIC Program for Breastfeeding

  Massachusetts WIC offers individual breastfeeding care before and after a baby is born, as well as assistance in accessing breast pumps. Asking questions during pregnancy and meeting other moms from the community can help a breastfeeding mom be more successful. Many WIC programs offer prenatal breastfeeding classes and breastfeeding support groups after the baby is born. For a full list of WIC’s free services, please click here. For more information, please visit: wicbreastfeeding.fns.usda.gov or call (508)-796-7000.

  Worcester REACH invites you to join us as we raise awareness and provide connections, education and resources for breastfeeding in our community.

  For additional information, please contact Cassandra Anderson, Chief of Community Health at the Worcester Division of Public Health, at AndersenC@worcesterma.gov or by calling 508 799 8531.