III.E.2.c. State Action Plan - Perinatal/Infant Health - Annual Report - Mississippi - 2021

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Perinatal/Infant Health Annual Report

 

Accomplishments and Challenges

 

Objective  1:  By 2019, establish a new system for tracking activities and success of FIMR Program.

 

Strategy 1:  Implement a new reporting template for Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) Coordinators.

 

Rationale for Strategy 1:  Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) is a community-based and action-oriented process used to improve service systems and resources for women, infants, and families. This evidence-based method examines fetal and infant deaths, determines preventability, and engages communities to take action. The MSDH internal reporting template will allow for better tracking of FIMR activities in the areas served and provide information that will assist with the continuous cycle of improvement as it relates to the FIMR process.

 

Activity 1a: Provide technical assistance to FIMR Coordinators related to tracking system.

 

Report Activity 1a: A new reporting template was implemented in March 2019. A conference call was held with two FIMR coordinators to discuss the template in detail. The template outlines how to report activities of the case review team and the community action team. Components of the report include the date of the review meeting, the number of cases reviews, recommendations discussed, the date of the community action team meeting, the number of attendees, and the topics discussed. The report also allows the coordinators to share information related to meetings, trainings, or special projects and the challenges and barriers experienced.  

 

A quarterly schedule was established for submitting the report. Since its implementation, three quarterly reports have been submitted by the FIMR coordinators. On May 31, 2019, the FIMR coordinator of the Pine Belt area resigned. Currently, the position is still vacant. 

 

Activity 1b: Attend two Community Action Team Meetings per year.

 

Report Activity 1b: The CAT meetings focus on topics deliberated during the case review meetings. During this period, guests were invited to speak on healthcare coverage options for families, addiction recovery programs for women, children and medicine safety, and immunization schedules. CAT members are diverse in profession and agencies they represent. For example, nurses and providers of local hospitals, social workers from child protections services, injury prevention specialist, breastfeeding coordinators, public health nurses, public health social workers, and directors of nonprofits of homeless shelters, addiction recovery, and domestic violence will attend meetings. The CAT also provides an opportunity for members to work together to address the recommendations from the case review team meetings.

 

There were three Community Action Team (CAT) meetings held during the reporting period, one in the Pine Belt area and two on the Gulf Coast. In total, 104 attendees were present at the CAT meetings. Most of the attendance (94 persons) were at the Gulf Coast location, which has been established longer than the Pine Belt area. Central office staff from MSDH attended one CAT meeting.  

 

Several initiatives were developed from the CAT meetings. A list of addiction recovery facilities and resources for homeless women on the Mississippi Gulf Coast have been compiled and shared with members. Additionally, the CAT has formed a committee to address bereavement services for families that experience perinatal and infant loss.

 

Activity 1c: Attend two Case Review Team Meetings per year.

 

Report Activity 1c: There were seven case review meetings held from October 1, 2018-September 30, 2019, two in the Pine Belt area and five on the Gulf Coast. Forty-four cases were reviewed in total. The case review meetings are attended by obstetricians/gynecologists, public health professionals of maternal and child health, social workers of social service agencies, labor and delivery nurses, PICU nurses, and other public health and clinical stakeholders of infant health. MSDH central office staff were not able to attend the meetings during this period due to limited staff and conflicting schedules. Nevertheless, through the quarterly reports, there is better engagement between the coordinators and central staff.

 

From the seven case meetings several recommendations were discussed ranging from preconception health, the quality of care given, and social resources that are able to provide a safe, structured environment for the infant. A summary of recommendations from the case review meetings are: chronic diseases and comorbidities of obesity and its effects on pregnancy, safe sleep for babies, substance use during pregnancy and the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, use of long acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) in pregnancy spacing, healthcare coverage for families, safe sleep for babies, and bereavement services for families that experience a perinatal or infant loss.

 

 

Objective 2: Improve the quality of infant mortality data related to SUID, by 2020.

 

Strategy 2: Assess the quality of the completion of Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigation (SUIDI) forms, autopsy reports and death scene investigation of SUID Cases that are reviewed by Child Death Review Panel (CDRP).

 

Rationale for Strategy 2: The program seeks to gain an understanding of the support the coroners need for completion of the SUIDI forms and supporting documents.

 

Activity 2a: Track the number of cases that have completed SUIDI forms and autopsy reports.

 

Report Activity 2a:

The Mississippi Child Death Review Panel (CDRP) reviewed 153 (86%) of the 186 infant and child deaths that were injury or violence related in 2017. This is a marked improvement from the 95 (55%) of 2016 infant and child deaths reviewed during last reporting period. Of the 186 deaths identified, 67 (36%) were infant deaths. Of the 67 infant deaths, 61 (91%) were categorized as Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID); and 58 cases were reviewed by the CDRP.

 

Starting with the 2017 review, a new tracking system was implemented to measure the number of investigation reports received, especially for SUID cases. Of the 58 cases reviewed, 34 Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigation (SUIDI) forms, 50 death investigation reports, 19 autopsies, and 24 law enforcement reports were available for review. Many agencies work together to investigate sudden unexpected fatalities of infants and children. Currently, the State Medical Examiner’s Office has a back log of autopsies due to understaffing. This does affect having death certificates with the manner of death and cause of death finalized as well as completed autopsy and toxicology reports at the time of review. However, more pertinent to the review are the investigation reports accessibility. The CDRP had a knowledge gap about the processes and protocols of the State Medical Examiner’s office since a representative had not been assigned to the Panel. The Child Death Review Panel legislation impaneled 17 mandated members including a representative from the State Medical Examiner’s office and the State Coroners Association.

 

Since May 2019, a representative from the State Medical Examiner’s office (SMEO) has been attending the review meetings. Additionally, a new representation from the State Coroners Association has been assigned. This has been instrumental in helping the Panel understand the oversight that is given to the coroners. From these two representatives being active on the Panel, recommendations can be directly funneled to the appropriate authorities.

 

Activity 2b: Document the recommendations from the Child Death Review Panel in the annual report.

 

Report Activity 2b: During the 2017 review, the CDRP initially developed a recommendation to make SUIDI training mandatory for all coroners. After having the representation from the State Medical Examiner’s office and the State Coroners Association present at meeting, the recommendation was revised for setting a deadline for when SUIDI forms must be completed. It was learned that all coroners, newly elected and re-elected, must attend a 40-hr training that covers investigating sudden unexpected deaths of infants and children and receive a certain amount of continuing education. However, there is no set time frame on when the coroners must submit the forms to the SMEO. Setting a deadline for the completion of SUIDI forms will make these reports more accessible to both the SMEO for continuing the investigation of manner of death and cause of death and the CDRP for reviewing the case.

 

 

Objective 3: Expand safe sleep outreach from 6 to 9 new community partners by 2019.

 

Strategy 3: Work with community partners to disseminate safe sleep education and provide resources to community.

 

Rationale for Strategy 3: Sleep-related deaths remain a major public health issue in Mississippi. Multiple strategies were chosen in an effort to expand the reach. Consistent safe sleep messaging is vital in ensuring that families and caregivers are safely placing their infants to sleep.

 

Activity 3a:  Increase outreach efforts through health fairs, community baby showers and

conferences to increase safe sleep education.

 

Report Activity 3a: The Safe Sleep MS project partnered with the City of Jackson and Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Health Center to disseminate safe sleep materials and resources at community events. During these events, a mock display showcased the difference between a safe sleeping environment and an unsafe sleeping environment. The Safe Sleep MS project reached an estimated 150 participants.

 

Additionally, safe sleep resources were shared with Families First MS Resources Center, Choctaw Health Center, Mississippi State Department of Health Social Workers, Mississippi State Department of Health, Health Educators, and nine Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). A total of 6,9888 resources were distributed which included safe sleep brochures, flipcharts and posters.  

 

Staff participated in the National WIC Association Infant and Maternal Mortality meeting.

 

Activity 3b: Partner with birthing hospitals disseminate safe sleep board book ‘Sleep Baby Safe and Snug’ to families to educate on safe sleep practices.

 

Report Activity 3b: Safe sleep board books, ‘Sleep Baby Safe and Snug’ were delivered to 24 birthing hospitals in Mississippi by the Safe Sleep MS program free of charge. The Sleep Baby, Safe and Snug board book provides the safe sleep message in the context of a beautifully written and illustrated children’s story. This board book provides safe sleep instructions and reminders right before the child is placed in their sleeping environment. Unlike the traditional brochures on safe sleep new parents receive at the hospital, people will cherish this book and read it to their child numerous times - promoting early literacy and reinforcing the safe sleep message. A total of 14,880 books were distributed to 24 birthing hospitals.

 

 

Activity 3c: Provide health education to PHRM/ISS participants through the Expectant and Teen Parenting grant to encourage the use of safe sleep environments.

 

Report Activity 3c: In October of 2019, the PHRM/ISS program held a mandatory infant safe sleep training for all staff. The field staff also received safe sleep resources to be utilized when doing home visits. 

 

Activity 3d: Provide funding to Cribs for Kids Program to purchase and distribute cribs to families in need.

 

Report Activity 3d: Funding was provided to the Mississippi SIDS & Infant Safety Alliance Cribs for Kids Program to disseminate pack ‘n plays to individuals and families in need. The Cribs for Kids Program receives referrals from the PHRM/ISS program, WIC, and other community-based programs. Individuals receiving cribs must complete a questionnaire and receive safe sleep education. The Mississippi SIDS Alliance Cribs for Kids Program distributed 143 cribs across 31 counties to mothers and fathers.

 

Objective 4: Increase the number of hits to the safe sleep Mississippi website and Facebook page by 10%.

 

Strategy 4: Implement social marketing strategies to promote safe sleep.

 

Rationale for Strategy 4: Social media is used as an outlet to provide information to specific populations. This strategy was chosen to ensure that we are reaching targeted populations, i.e. first-time parents who grew up in a social media era, grandparents, and a diverse caregiver network of friends and family. Over the years, social media has grown as a platform to share key health messages. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have certain demographics of its usage by gender and age. According to the Community Guide, over 95% of Americans own a cell phone and smart phone with 62% of users using it to find information about health condition. Furthermore, 72% of internet users look up health information online and about 1 in 5 use at least one health app on their smart phone. In this digital age, health communication campaigns have to consider social media as a way to spread the message beyond traditional marketing tactics.

 

https://www.thecommunityguide.org/sites/default/files/assets/What-Works-Health-Communication-Health-Information-Technology.pdf

 

Activity 4a: Establish a baseline from current hits on website and Facebook.

 

Report Activity 4a: Safe Sleep MS Facebook page was created September 26, 2018. Since its creation, the page has reached an estimated 5,469 people and received 1,255 total page likes. Of the 1,255 total page likes, 97% are women and 3% are men. People who liked the Safe Sleep MS Facebook page also fall within the following ages ranges: 18-24 (10%), 25-34 (25%), 35-44 (30%), 45-54 (25%) 55-64 (7%) and 65+ (3%). People who liked the Safe Sleep MS Facebook page are from the following cities: Jackson, Vicksburg, Brandon, Pearl, Forest, Brookhaven, Kosciusko, Yazoo City, Madison, and Philadelphia.

 

Activity 4b: Promote safe sleep website and safe sleep Facebook page through sponsored ads during peak months.

 

Report Activity 4b: Facebook ads were purchased in June 2019 and October 2019. According to Facebook analytics, in June 2019, the Safe Sleep MS ad purchased reached an estimated 958 people organically. In October 2019, the Safe Sleep MS ad purchased in honor of SIDS awareness month reached an estimated 2,501 organically. Additionally, the October Safe Sleep MS ad purchased generated 34 shares, 911 photo views. 

 

 

Objective 5: By 2019, establish a crib distribution pilot program to increase the number of safe sleep environments for infants.

 

Strategy 5: Pilot one new location for six months for referral to crib distribution site.

 

Rationale for Strategy 5: This strategy was chosen to ensure that we are not only educating the public about the guidelines of infant safe sleep but providing resources to those who do not have a safe place for their infant to sleep.

 

Activity 5a:  Increase utilization of vouchers by referral process from clinic.

 

Report Activity 5a: The Safe Sleep MS project established partnerships with Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Health Healthy Start Program and Families First for MS Resources Center to distribute cribs to families in need. Due to staff turnover at the partner agency, the Safe Sleep MS project decided not to utilize a voucher process by which clinics referred patients to Healthy Start or Families First.

 

Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Health Center Healthy Start Program is an initiative of the Maternal and Child Bureau (MCHB), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) targeted to the needs of vulnerable families living in communities in Hinds County which have exceptionally high rates of infant mortality. The Healthy Start Program implements evidence-based health and community interventions, during the preconception, prenatal, postpartum, and parenting phases to help to strengthen family resilience, creating the foundation for optimal infant and young child health and development.

 

Families First for MS Resource Center is a non-profit organization that promotes improvement and expansion of communities through concept development, educational processes, and resource referrals. The Families First for MS Resource Center serves as a distribution site for the pack ‘n play which are provided by the Safe Sleep City Project.

 

Activity 5b:  At the end of pilot project, survey clinics on voucher referral process.

 

Report Activity 5b: In lieu of the voucher by referral process the Safe Sleep MS project initiated through its partnerships that any individual upon request that is pregnant (at least 32 weeks) and/or has an infant less than 9 months can receive a pack ‘n play upon the completion of the safe sleep MS survey, signing of the hold harmless agreement form, and receiving education about safe sleep practices. Individuals that are currently pregnant are asked to share the due date and if they are willing to be contacted 30 days after delivery. If so, the individual is contacted via email or phone and the survey assessing safe sleep practices is administered.

 

 

Objective 6:  Increase the number trainings given to professionals on infant safe sleep guidelines from 2 in 2018 to 4 in 2019.

 

Strategy 6: Work with two pilot sites to identify families eligible to receive a pack-n-play and safe sleep resources.

 

Rationale for Strategy 6: This strategy was chosen to ensure that we are not only educating the public about the guidelines of infant safe sleep but providing resources to those who do not have a safe place for their infant to sleep.

 

Activity 6a:  Distribute cribs to families through the voucher referral process.

 

Report Activity 6a: The Safe Sleep MS project established partnerships with Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Health Healthy Start Program and Families First for MS Resource Center to distribute pack ‘n plays to individuals in need. Additionally, the Mississippi SIDS & Infant Safety Alliance Cribs for Kids Program distributes pack ‘n plays to families in need.

 

Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Health Center Healthy Start Program distributed 130 pack ‘n plays.

 

Families First for MS Resources Center distributed 40 pack ‘n plays.

 

MS SIDS Alliance Cribs for Kids Program distributed 143 pack ‘n plays.

 

Activity 6b: Evaluate the effectiveness of the crib pilot by administering a survey to families two months’ post distribution.

 

Report Activity 6b: The Safe Sleep MS project did not utilize the voucher by referral process with clinics. In lieu of the voucher by referral process the Safe Sleep MS project initiated through its partnerships that any individual upon request that is pregnant (at least 32 weeks) and or has an infant less than 9 months can receive a pack ‘n play upon the completion of the safe sleep MS survey, signing of the harmless agreement form, and receiving education about safe sleep practices. Individuals that are currently pregnant are asked to share the due date and if they are willing to be contacted 30 days after delivery. If so, the individual is contacted via email or phone and the survey assessing safe sleep practices is administered.

 

Pertinent information is gathered at initial contact, but no follow-up is conducted at this time after crib distribution unless the individual receiving the crib is currently pregnant.

 

 

Objective 7: By 2019, increase the number of birthing hospitals participating in the Mississippi Perinatal Quality Collaboratives QI Initiatives by 4.

 

Strategy 7: Support Quality Improvement efforts to improve perinatal outcomes.

 

Rationale for Strategy 7: Perinatal morbidity and mortality are key indicators of a nation's health status. State-based Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (PQCs) are networks of perinatal care providers that include hospitals, clinicians, and public health professionals working together improve pregnancy outcomes for women and newborns using a rigorous quality improvement science. Members of the collaborative are healthcare facilities, mainly hospitals, which identify processes of care that require improvement and then use the best available methods to effect change and improve outcomes as quickly as possible.

 

Activity 7a: Facilitate the statewide perinatal quality collaborative to engage obstetrics, neonatal and pediatric stakeholders in applying quality improvement methodologies related to perinatal outcomes.

 

Report Activity 7a: Perinatal quality collaboratives (PQCs) are state or multi-state networks of teams working to improve the quality of care for mothers and babies. PQC members identify health care processes that need to be improved and use the best available methods to make changes as quickly as possible. For the last six years, the Mississippi Perinatal Quality Collaborative convened stakeholders who are interested in improving the health of mothers and babies in the state of Mississippi. 

 

Hospitals participating in MSPQC and its projects:

 

  • Anderson Memorial- Meridian, MS
  • Forrest General Hospital- Hattiesburg, MS
  • Memorial Hospital Gulfport- Gulfport, MS
  • Merit Health CMMC- Jackson, MS
  • Merit Health River Oaks -Flowood, MS
  • Merit Health Woman’s Hospital- Flowood, MS
  • Merit Health Wesley- Hattiesburg, MS
  • Mississippi Baptist Medical Center- Jackson, MS
  • North Mississippi Medical Center- Tupelo, MS
  • Rush Foundation Hospital- Meridian, MS
  • St. Dominic’s Hospital- Jackson, MS
  • University of MS Medical Center- Jackson, MS

 

The Mississippi Perinatal Quality Collaborative hosts quarterly steering committee meetings and monthly project leadership meetings. MSPQC also hosts monthly project webinar’s that provide continuing education; MSPQC updates and provides time for teams to share lessons learned and challenges. There are also regional in-person learning sessions, individual coaching calls, site visits to participating hospitals and training sessions. The steering committee also aids with planning the annual state-wide meeting.

 

The Mississippi Perinatal Quality Collaborative is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

In November of 2019, MSPQC hosted its 6th annual statewide meeting at the Hilton hotel in Jackson, MS with more than 300 in attendance. The agenda included a range of topics, with national experts presenting from all over the United States. Maternal mortality is a recent national focus as it relates to black women and the disparity in the United States. The agenda below provides additional details on the topics covered at the 2019 annual meeting.

 

 

 

Strategy 8: Identify licensed childcare centers through Mississippi State Department of Health’s licensure division to target for infant safe sleep training.

 

Rationale for Strategy 8: Infants in childcare are with the caregivers for a large portion of the day. It is imperative that caregivers are trained on infant safe sleep practices to ensure the safety of all infants in their care.

 

Activity 8a: Provide training to childcare center staff on infant safe sleep guidelines.

 

Report Activity 8a: The Safe Sleep MS project conducted four Safe Sleep childcare trainings in partnership with the Mississippi State Department of Health Asthma Program, Early Headstart Regional Conference, Delta Health Alliance – Indianola and Delta Health Alliance – Greenville. The Safe Sleep MS project reached 239 childcare providers across 19 childcare centers.

 

(Perinatal and Infant Health) Maternal and Infant Health Bureau Evidenced Based Measures Reporting

 

ESM 1: Number of cribs distributed by Cribs for Kids Program

 

ESM 1 Report: 143 cribs distributed by Cribs for Kids Program

 

ESM 2: Number of cribs distributed through Families First Resource Center with the pilot voucher project.

 

ESM 2 Report: 40 cribs distributed by Families First Resources Center

 

ESM 3: Number of infant safe sleep trainings provided to licensed childcare centers in public health regions.

 

ESM 3 Report: 4 safe sleep trainings provided reaching 239 childcare providers

 

ESM 4: Number of quarterly reports completed by FIMR coordinators.

 

ESM 4 Report: Three reports were completed by the FIMR coordinators.

 

ESM 5: Number of infant cases thoroughly investigated by the coroners, law enforcement, and medical examiners.

 

ESM 5 Report:  Of the 67 infant deaths, 61 (91%) were categorized as Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID); and 58 cases were reviewed by the CDRP. Thirty-four Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigation (SUIDI) forms, 50 death investigation reports, 19 autopsies, and 24 law enforcement reports were available for review.

 

ESM 6: Number of hits to safe sleep website and social media campaign (Facebook) quarterly.

 

ESM 6 Report: Safe Sleep Facebook has reached an estimated 5,469 people and received 1255 total page likes.

 

ESM 7: Number of new partnerships established with the Safe Sleep City project.

 

ESM 7 Report: 8 new partnerships established with Safe Sleep City Project

 

ESM 8: Number of safe sleep board books distributed to birthing hospitals in Mississippi.

 

ESM 8 Report: 14,880 books distributed to 24 birthing hospitals in MS.

 

ESM 9: Number of safe sleep outreach events provided to the community.

 

ESM 9 Report: 3 outreach events

 

ESM 10: Number of hospitals participating in MSPQC QI Initiatives.

 

ESM 10 Report: 12 hospitals participating in MSPQC QI Initiatives


Other Programmatic Activities Perinatal and Infant Health (Maternal and Infant Health Bureau)

 

The Mississippi State Department of Health is participating in the Safe Sleep CoIIN with 3 other states: Arkansas, New York and Tennessee. The Mississippi project, is called ‘Safe Sleep City’,  which involves challenging a city and its key partners within it to commit to educating the city’s families about the risks of sleep related infant deaths, ways to keep babies safe and to ensure that every infant within the city has a safe place to sleep. Focusing at the city level brings a greater sense of ownership, responsibility and meaning to the population than a statewide effort. Our goal is to achieve a critical level of saturation of consistent safe sleep messaging throughout the city, with a shared goal of eliminating preventable SUID cases.

We utilize the partnership between the Mississippi State Department of Health, the Mayor’s office of a city, childcare centers, faith based organizations, Healthy Start, Physician Offices, the MS Chapter of AAP, Families First, to engage key partners to commit to educating families about safe sleep and when possible providing safe sleep spaces for infants.

The Safe Sleep City Project aims to increase program efforts by strengthening community partnerships. The program hosts a safe sleep partner meeting quarterly to provide updates on Safe Sleep City project goals and to seek assistance from partners to carry out goals and objectives. This has allowed the program to increase reach with infant safe sleep education. We also have worked with the Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics Office of Tobacco Control to display safe sleep billboards in the city of Jackson to help promote the Safe Sleep City Initiative.

The Public Health community is increasingly turning to the internet and social media as an outlet to promote and increase the spread of data and information to help improve community and personal health practices. Social media/websites also provide an outlet to share preventive information and enable tracking of personal health behaviors and build networks. The Maternal and Infant Health Bureau understands the importance of expanding reach for an intended audience. The program along with its partners continues to promote safe sleep through Mississippi’s safe sleep website, Facebook and Instagram as an added education resource and to provide consistent safe sleep messaging.

Safe Sleep Mississippi’s website-www.safesleepms.org

 

Facebook- Safe Sleep MS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Safe Sleep City- Jackson, MS

Emerging Issues Perinatal and Infant Health (Maternal and Infant Bureau)

 

The state of Mississippi is seeing increasing numbers of mothers and newborns affected by opioids. The rate of neonatal abstinence syndrome among neonates has more than tripled over the past decade and opioid overdose is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality based upon a recent evaluation. MSDH is beginning to strengthen both the surveillance and response to the opioid epidemic, including its impact on maternal and child health. The Mississippi Perinatal Quality Collaborative (MSPQC) is leading an initiative among neonatal hospital units to standardize and improve the care of neonates exposed to opioids in-utero experiencing Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). MSPQC was awarded supplemental funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to increase the number of obstetric and mental health providers with waivers to provide medical assistance therapy to pregnant and parenting women with substance use disorders and will broaden training on non-pharmacologic treatment of neonates with NAS.

The Maternal Mortality Review Committee for MSDH has established a Health Equity Subcommittee to review maternal deaths with a closer lens at understanding social determinants of health and community level factors and solutions to maternal death, including and especially those driven by mental health conditions.

Success Story Perinatal and Infant Health (Maternal and Infant Health Bureau)

 

Losing a baby is a life-altering experience and so few women and families are given time and space to talk about their experiences and grief. Whether it’s an early miscarriage, or the death of a newborn, the experience of losing a child can have deep and lasting effects on mental health. More and more health organizations are urging providers to screen mothers for depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges following the loss of a child. Screening should begin immediately following the loss and continue even years following. Families are also encouraged to provide support to mom’s/families that may be experiencing a mental health challenge to get help and help them find the appropriate mental health care needs.

The Fetal & Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) began in south Mississippi in 2012. Over the years, the FIMR program identified the lack of bereavement services for parents who have suffered miscarriages, stillbirths or infant deaths. The FIMR nurse worked diligently with management at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport to start hosting a monthly bereavement group meeting for this select and special group of parents. Healing Hearts was the chosen name for the group and the meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month from 6pm to 7pm beginning in the fall of 2019. The group will provide and outlet for families to support each other, but also provide information on community mental health resources that may be available.

 

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