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Published on September 02, 2022
At a time when our nation is struggling with many divisive issues, we must not forget the areas where we can communicate. In Texas, even in a critical election where partisanship runs high, we must ask what unites us, and we know it is our compassion for mothers and young children. Here in Fort Worth, we can take action now to improve the lives of women and families across our city, and that starts with maternal and infant health care.
September is Infant Mortality Awareness Month. In Fort Worth and Tarrant County, we have an infant mortality crisis that varies greatly by zip code. For example, the infant mortality rate in the 76104 zip code is significantly higher than the rate in neighboring 76107. In Tarrant County alone, at least six babies die per 1,000 live births.
Health care providers all agree—infant and maternal mortality is directly related to the level of care a mother and child receive before and after birth.
But affluent families need not only adequate health care, but also community support infrastructure and growth opportunities. This requires a holistic approach that includes our healthcare partners, childcare and education providers, mental health services and more.
In light of this crisis, Fort Worth stakeholders and service agency CEOs came together to collaborate in new ways to better serve women, children and families in our community. We invite all partners to join us in providing a better system of care for Fort Worth mothers and their babies.
In the coming months, we will work together to support programs that focus on maternal health care outcomes; We work in partnership with existing city and county programs to ensure mothers and babies have access to better support services, such as quality child care and swaddling assistance. We help women and children explore parenting options for community-based foster care and long-term outcomes; We care and work to support safe childhoods for Fort Worth families. And we’ll identify priorities for the upcoming legislative session, including addressing the child care crisis and supporting the Texas House’s efforts to expand postpartum health care and support services.
Today, we’re changing the story—from talking about women and babies simply surviving, to taking action to help women and children thrive in Fort Worth. We look forward to doing this important work together.
signed,
Matt Parker, Mayor, City of Fort Worth
Wayne Carson, CEO, ACH Child and Family Services
Julie Evans, Chief Executive, Alliance for Children
Michael Sanborn, President, Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center – Fort Worth
Father Anthony Chandler, Interim President and CEO of Catholic Charities Fort Worth
Carol Klocek, CEO, Center for Changing Lives
Cara Waddell, President and CEO, Child Care Associates
Rick Merrill, president and CEO of Cook Children’s Health Center
Mark Melson, CEO, Gladney Adoption Center
Dr. Karen Duncan, CEO of JPS Health Network
Susan Garnett, Taran County Executive MHMR
Dr. Stuart D. Flynn, Dean, TCU Burnett School of Medicine
Barclay Berdan, CEO, Texas Health Resources
Dr. Michael Williams, President of the UNT Health Sciences Center
Leah M. King, President and CEO, United Way of Tarrant County
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