ANNOUNCER: BRICK BY BRICK IS MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO LEADING SUPPORT FROM: AND MANY MORE.

WE COULDN'T DO THIS WORK WITHOUT YOU.

THANK YOU.

THOMPSON: WHEN IT COMES TO LEADING INDICATORS OF A COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, A CRITICAL ONE IS INFANT MORTALITY, OR THE DEATH OF A BABY BEFORE ITS FIRST BIRTHDAY.

THAT RATE REMAINS HIGH IN THE U.S., INCLUDING HERE IN OHIO.

GREENBERG: SO WHAT'S CHANGED, ACTUALLY, IS THAT THE WHITE INFANT MORTALITY RATE HAS GOTTEN A LOT BETTER, THE BLACK INFANT MORTALITY RATE NOT SO MUCH.

THOMPSON: THE CAUSES ARE MANY, INCLUDING SIDS, PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS AND PRETERM BIRTH.

THIS CINCINNATI MOTHER AND HER NOW ONE YEAR OLD TWINS ARE DOING FINE, BUT WHEN SHE WENT THROUGH DELIVERY, SHE SAYS NOBODY LISTENED TO HER.

SMITH: I THINK THE ANESTHESIA WAS UNDERESTIMATED IN MY CASE AND IT WAS NEGATED.

MY FEELINGS WERE NEGATED AT THE TIME.

THOMPSON: WITH A MODEL THAT BRINGS TOGETHER HOSPITALS, PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SUPPORT MOMS AND BABIES, FOR YEARS, THE ORGANIZATION CRADLE CINCINNATI HAS BEEN TRYING TO KEEP INFANT MORTALITY NUMBERS IN CHECK.

SMITH: THE MEASURE OF HOW WE TREAT OUR BABIES IS THE MEASURE OF A SOCIETY.

THOMPSON: ON TODAY'S PROGRAM, WE'LL ZERO IN ON THE CRADLE EFFORT, WHOSE MODEL IS ALSO BEING SHARED WITH OTHER OHIO COUNTIES EXPERIENCING HIGH INFANT MORTALITY RATES, INCLUDING MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

WE'LL ALSO GET A LOOK AT A SEPARATE EFFORT TO SUPPORT HEALTHY PREGNANCIES AND BIRTHS IN DAYTON BY RECRUITING AND TRAINING COMMUNITY DOULAS.

HAWKINS: WOMEN WHO ARE RECRUITED ARE RECRUITED SPECIFICALLY FROM THE ZIP CODES THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF INFANT MORTALITY.

THOMPSON: ON TODAY'S SHOW, WHY INFANT MORTALITY IS STILL A PROBLEM IN THE US AND OHIO, DISPARITIES BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE INFANTS, AND HOW WE CAN DECREASE THEIR DEATHS.

LET'S GET INTO IT.

THIS IS BRICK BY BRICK; SOLUTIONS FOR A THRIVING COMMUNITY.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO BRICK BY BRICK, WHERE WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING SOLUTIONS FOR A THRIVING COMMUNITY IN SOUTHWEST OHIO.

I'M YOUR HOST, ANN THOMPSON.

WITH ME IS THE TEAM: MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISTS EMIKO MOORE AND HERNZ LAGUERRE, JR.. HEY, Y'ALL.

LAGUERRE: HELLO.

SO HERE IN THE US, WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST MEDICINE AND DOCTORS IN THE WORLD, YET WE CAN'T SEEM TO DRAMATICALLY LOWER INFANT MORTALITY RATES.

HERNZ, YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO THIS SITUATION AND HAVE FOUND THAT THE CAUSES CAN BE COMPLICATED.

YEAH.

YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO HIGH INFANT MORTALITY RATES, I LIKE TO COMPARE IT TO A BIRD IN A WIRED CAGE IN THE SAME WAY THAT YOU HAVE MULTIPLE WIRES KEEPING THE BIRD CAGED, YOU HAVE MULTIPLE FACTORS, MULTIPLE ISSUES AS TO WHY INFANT MORTALITY RATES ARE SO HIGH.

THIS IS WHY CRADLE CINCINNATI, WHICH I KNOW WE'LL GET INTO LATER, FOCUSES SO MUCH ON COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE HOSPITALS AND THE COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO ATTACK THIS FROM MULTIPLE ANGLES.

FROM THE GROUND UP COMMUNITIES AND THE FAMILIES, AND EVEN FROM THE TOP DOWN, INCLUDING THE HOSPITALS THEMSELVES.

THOMPSON: WELL, THAT'S IMPORTANT IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE ANY CHANGE, INCLUDING THE HOSPITALS.

YOU KNOW, HOSPITALS AND CRADLE CINCINNATI MAKES USE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AND ALSO DOULAS.

EMIKO, YOU HAVE DISCOVERED A SEPARATE EFFORT IN DAYTON WHERE DOULAS ARE BEING RECRUITED.

MOORE: THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S CALLED THE DOULA INITIATIVE.

AND DOULAS ARE BIRTH COACHES AND ADVOCATES.

AND I ATTENDED THE GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR THE FIRST COHORT, AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW.

THE PROGRAM IS RUN THROUGH AN ARM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON, AND IT TRAINS DOULAS ON PRE- AND POST-NATAL CARE, AND IT HAS AN ADDITIONAL BUSINESS TRAINING COMPONENT TO IT.

AND THIS FIRST COHORT HAS TAKEN THIS AND IS RUNNING.

THEY ARE PULLING THEIR TALENTS TOGETHER TO CREATE A COLLECTIVE, AND THEY HOPE THAT THIS WILL HAVE REAL COMMUNITY IMPACT.

THOMPSON: WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF ENERGY SURROUNDING THIS TOPIC AND ALSO SOLUTIONS, WHICH IS IMPORTANT IF YOU'RE GOING TO TRY TO SOLVE IT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR STORIES.

LAGUERRE: SOUNDS GOOD.

THOMPSON: SEE YOU IN A BIT.

GETTING TO AGE ONE, TRAGICALLY, IS NOT A GIVEN IN MODERN AMERICA.

HOW MANY BABIES DIE BEFORE THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY EACH YEAR?

IN THE US THE LATEST DATA SHOWS MORE THAN 20,000.

PRELIMINARY 2024 DATA FINDS 5.5 DEATHS FOR EVERY 1000 LIVE BIRTHS.

THE NATIONAL PERCENTAGE IS MUCH HIGHER FOR BLACK INFANTS.

WHEN IT COMES TO STATES, OHIO RANKS 45TH IN THE NATION FOR INFANT MORTALITY.

IN 2023 MONTGOMERY COUNTY WAS 9.8 DEATHS PER 1000 LIVE BIRTHS.

THAT'S HIGHER THAN BOTH THE STATE AND THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

FOR HAMILTON COUNTY, THE NUMBER WAS LOWER.

SARAH HUBER IS SENIOR EPIDEMIOLOGIST FOR HAMILTON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH.

HUBER: WE DID HAVE A DIP IN 2023 THAT WAS LIKE A HIGHLIGHT YEAR FOR US.

WE HAD OUR INFANT MORTALITY RATE WAS 5.48.

OUR 2024 AND 2025 NUMBERS HAVE INCREASED SINCE THEN, BUT THEY ARE STILL PRELIMINARY, SO WE DO EXPECT THAT THEY WILL BE ROUGHLY WHERE THEY ARE RIGHT NOW UNTIL DATA IS FINALIZED, BUT WE ARE LOOKING INTO WHY.

THOMPSON: THE PRELIMINARY NUMBERS FOR 2025 PUT THE INFANT MORTALITY RATE BACK ABOVE EIGHT, WITH BLACK COMMUNITIES SEEING AN EVEN HIGHER JUMP BACK TO LEVELS SEEN BEFORE HAMILTON COUNTY OFFICIALS STARTED ADDRESSING THE ISSUE.

THEY'RE STILL DIGGING INTO THE REASONS WHY THAT'S HAPPENING.

THE CAUSES OF INFANT MORTALITY ARE MANY: PRETERM BIRTH, SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME, BIRTH DEFECTS, AND MORE.

EVEN THOUGH SARAH'S A NUMBERS PERSON, SHE OFTEN GOES BEHIND THE DATA, IDENTIFYING OVERLOOKED RISKS LIKE NURSING PILLOWS.

BETWEEN 2013 AND 2023, THERE WERE TEN DOCUMENTED DEATHS WHERE A NURSING PILLOW WAS PRESENT.

HUBER: WE LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE AVAILABLE WHEN MOM IS FEEDING OR WHEN SHE NEEDS TO USE IT, BUT IN TERMS OF SLEEPING, THEY DON'T NEED TO BE IN THE SPACE WITH THE INFANT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO TURN THEIR HEAD WHEN SOMETHING SOFT COVERS THEIR FACE.

THOMPSON: HUBER SAYS IN 2024, FOUR ADDITIONAL DEATHS OCCURRED UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES, REPRESENTING A 40% INCREASE.

BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY CAUSES OF INFANT MORTALITY, REDUCING THE NUMBERS IS NOT EASY.

IN 2011, HAMILTON COUNTY USED TO HAVE THE SECOND HIGHEST RATE IN THE NATION.

WE'LL GET TO HOW THE COUNTY LOWERED IT IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

BUT FIRST, SOME REAL LIFE EXAMPLES OF HOW MOTHERS HAD TO FIGHT TO NAVIGATE THEIR PREGNANCY JOURNEYS.

TEACHER JAMIRA HOLT SAYS HER FIRST AND ONLY PREGNANCY EXPERIENCE WAS ONE TO REMEMBER.

WHILE IN LABOR WITH TWINS SHE SAYS SHE WAS POKED AND IT WAS PAINFUL BECAUSE POSSIBLY SHE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH ANESTHESIA.

SHE COMMUNICATED THAT, WASN'T ACKNOWLEDGED, AND THEN RUSHED INTO MAKING A SERIES OF DECISIONS.

HOLT: MAYBE JUST LISTENING MORE INSTEAD OF THINKING THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THE ANESTHESIA IS GOING TO DO, AND ALWAYS TRUST THAT THINGS COULD BE DIFFERENT WHEN IT COMES TO THE HUMAN BODY.

THOMPSON: JAMIRA TALKED ABOUT THAT LACK OF LISTENING IN A SURVEY WITH DR.

CORINN TAYLOR, A NURSE, RESEARCHER, AND FOUNDER OF THE EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION, NOTICED EARLY ON THAT PREGNANT WOMEN, ESPECIALLY BLACK WOMEN, WEREN'T BEING LISTENED TO.

TAYLOR: I FEEL LIKE IT'S VERY DISTURBING BECAUSE IT ULTIMATELY IMPACTS THE CARE THE PATIENT RECEIVES.

AND WHEN SOMEONE IS TELLING YOU ABOUT THEIR SITUATION, THEIR STORY, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE, I THINK IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT FOR THAT PERSON TO BE HEARD BECAUSE THAT'S HOW CARE IS GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE IF WE UNDERSTAND THE THINGS THAT PATIENTS ARE GOING THROUGH.

THOMPSON: TAYLOR PARTNERED WITH UNITED WAY AND OTHER NON-PROFITS FOR THE STUDY.

SHE SAYS OTHER REQUESTS, WHICH HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH MEDICAL CARE, WERE ALSO IGNORED.

TAYLOR: THE WOMAN WANTED MUSIC PLAYING IN THE ROOM.

SOMEONE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD MESS WITH THE EQUIPMENT, YOU KNOW, SO THEY COULDN'T ADHERE TO THE BIRTH PLAN THAT THEY CREATED FOR THE KIND OF BIRTH THAT THEY WANTED.

THOMPSON: TAYLOR'S REPORT GIVES RECOMMENDATIONS TO HEALTH SYSTEMS, HELPING THEM BETTER UNDERSTAND PREGNANT WOMEN AND THEIR PRENATAL AND POSTPARTUM NEEDS.

AGOL ALOAK WAS ANOTHER OF THE THREE DOZEN WOMEN PARTICIPATING IN THE STUDY.

SHE HAD A HIGH PAYING JOB AND FELT BELITTLED BY A HEALTH CARE WORKER WHO WANTED HER TO QUALIFY FOR WIC.

ALOAK: SHE GOES, "OKAY, WELL, THIS IS YOUR MONEY RANGE FOR THE INCOME."

I WAS LIKE, I WAS LOOKING AT IT AND I WAS LIKE, "OH, WELL, WHAT IF YOU MAKE MORE?"

AND SHE GAVE ME THIS REALLY LIKE, DISGUSTED FACE, LIKE, "YOU MAKE MORE?

LIKE, YOU DON'T MAKE MORE."

AND I WAS LIKE, "I DO."

LIKE, I'M LIKE, "YEAH, I MAKE THIS MUCH AMOUNT."

SHE GOES, "OH, WELL THEN YOU DON'T EVEN QUALIFY."

SHE JUST KIND OF MOVE THE PAPER OUT OF MY FACE.

YOU KNOW?

THAT KIND OF MADE ME FEEL LIKE, "MM.

ALL RIGHT.

SO YOU PUT ME IN THIS BOX ALREADY, AND YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO I AM."

THOMPSON: AGOL WANTS TO TELL OTHER MOTHERS YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOWER YOURSELF AND PUT YOURSELF IN A BOX.

THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO GET HELP.

IN THE SURVEY SHE ALSO EXPLAINED SHE WAS FORCED TO HAVE A C-SECTION WHEN SHE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARY.

JAMIRA AND AGOL'S STORIES RING TRUE IN STUDIES CITED BY KFF NEWS.

ONE REPORT SAID BLACK AND HISPANIC WOMEN REPORTED THE HIGHEST RATES OF MISTREATMENT, LIKE SHOUTING AND SCOLDING, IGNORING OR REFUSING REQUESTS FOR HELP WHILE PREGNANT.

ANOTHER STUDY FOUND THAT BLACK WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO RECEIVE A C-SECTION COMPARED TO WHITE WOMEN.

STRONGLY TIED TO WOMEN'S HEALTH IS THE INFANT MORTALITY PROBLEM.

IN 2011, HAMILTON COUNTY HAD THE SECOND HIGHEST RATE IN THE COUNTRY, NEARLY 11 DEATHS FOR EVERY 1000 LIVE BIRTHS.

DOCTORS ELIZABETH KELLY AND JAMES GREENBERG DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, FORMING CRADLE CINCINNATI IN 2013 WITH A GOAL THAT EVERY CHILD LIVES TO SEE THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY.

THEY, ALONG WITH THE COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITY, STARTED LOOKING AT INFANT MORTALITY DATA AND RAISING AWARENESS.

KELLY SAYS IT WAS IMPORTANT TO REIMAGINE CARE, JOINING BOTH MEDICAL AND SOCIAL DRIVERS, WHICH IS WHAT CRADLE CINCINNATI HAS DONE.

KELLY: THINK OF LIKE SOMEONE COMING IN AND SOMEBODY SAYING WITH A PIECE OF PAPER, "DO YOU HAVE A RIDE?

DO YOU HAVE A BED?

DO YOU HAVE HEAT?

DO YOU HAVE THIS?"

AND YOU'RE LIKE, AS OPPOSED TO, "HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY?

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

HOW CAN --" MAYBE NOT EXPLICITLY SAYING THIS -- "BUT HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER?"

THOMPSON: THIS PERSONAL APPROACH PROVIDES A CARE MANAGER WHO CONNECTS MOTHERS WITH DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS, A DOULA, TRANSPORTATION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELP, AND EVICTION PREVENTION.

DR.

KELLY SAYS SOCIAL STRESSORS ARE A CAUSE OF PRETERM BIRTH ISSUES, AND CRADLE CINCINNATI IS HELPING TO MITIGATE THAT IN A WAY THAT IS NOT DEMEANING.

KELLY: ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS AROUND THIS AREA OF THIS QUESTION YOU ASKED IS TO SAY, "THIS WOMAN IS STRONG.

THIS WOMAN HAS GOT IT.

HOW CAN WE PARTNER WITH HER TO MAKE HER REALIZE WHAT SHE KNOWS SHE NEEDS TO HAVE A HEALTHY PREGNANCY?

THOMPSON: CRADLE CINCINNATI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MEREDITH SMITH SAYS THE ORGANIZATION HAS EXPANDED SINCE ITS INCEPTION.

A GROUP IT RUNS CALLED QUEEN'S VILLAGE, HELPS CREATE COMMUNITY WITH BIRTHING PARENTS THROUGH MEETINGS, GATHERINGS AND WORKSHOPS, CREATING A NETWORK OF SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY.

SELF-CARE IS OFTEN CENTERED.

SMITH: IT IS A SPACE FOR BLACK WOMEN TO GATHER TOGETHER TO DO TWO THINGS, ONE, HEAL FROM THE REALITY OF LIVING IN A BLACK BODY IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND SO THAT IS A LOT OF GATHERING AND CELEBRATION AND WHATEVER THEY'RE ASKING FOR.

SO AT TIMES IT'S YOGA AND SOMETIMES IT'S PAINTING AND SOMETIMES IT'S JUST CELEBRATING INFANT MORTALITY WHEN IT'S GOING DOWN, AND OTHER TIMES IT'S CO-CREATING INTERVENTIONS WHEN IT'S GOING UP.

THOMPSON: DR.

JAMES GREENBERG KEEPS AN EYE ON THE DATA.

AND FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, CRADLE CINCINNATI AND OTHERS HAVE MOSTLY KEPT INFANT MORTALITY NUMBERS DOWN IN HAMILTON COUNTY.

GREENBERG REALIZES THERE ARE MANY FACTORS THAT CAN HELP LOWER INFANT MORTALITY, LIKE EARLY PRENATAL CARE AND HELP FROM THE FATHER AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY AFTER THE BABY IS BORN.

GREENBERG: WHOEVER'S THERE HAS TO BE THERE IN THE WAY A FATHER CAN BE THERE.

ALL THE TIME, 24/7 IN A REAL SENSE.

AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND THERE'S SOME RESEARCH THAT SUPPORTS THIS.

IF YOU LOOK AT BIG EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDIES, THE AVAILABILITY, IF YOU WILL, OF A FATHER SEEMS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH BETTER PREGNANCY OUTCOMES.

THOMPSON: ANOTHER KEY CAUSE OF INFANT MORTALITY, DR, GREENBERG SAYS, IS UNSAFE SLEEP PRACTICES.

HE SAYS PARENT EXHAUSTION IS ONE REASON FOR BABIES SLEEPING IN THEIR PARENTS' BED, WHICH CAN BE A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.

SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF INFANT MORTALITY.

ONE OF THE MAIN MESSAGES CRADLE AND OTHER GROUPS LIKE IT SHARE OUT ARE THE ABCS OF SAFE SLEEP, WHICH WE SHOULD ALL LEARN.

THEY RECOMMEND ALLOWING YOUR BABY TO SLEEP ALONE, ON THEIR BACK AND IN A CRIB.

RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE CAUSES AND BUILDING SUPPORT FOR BIRTHING PARENTS IS IMPORTANT.

IT CAN BE SEEN AS THE GROUND UP ASPECT TO CRADLE'S APPROACH.

THERE IS ALSO A TOP DOWN SIDE TO IT, WHICH IS FOCUSED ON REFINING HOSPITAL PRACTICES AND ELIMINATING UNCONSCIOUS BIAS.

AS BRICK BY BRICK'S HERNZ LAGUERRE, JR.

REPORTS, THE PARTNERSHIP OF HOSPITALS IS VITAL TO BETTER CARE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN.

ANNOUNCER: WE'RE TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE BEST PART OF OURSELVES, THE THINGS THAT BRING US JOY.

LAGUERRE: CRADLE CINCINNATI'S BRANCH ORGANIZATION, QUEEN'S VILLAGE, HAS EVENTS CALLED MOMMY MEETUPS.

THE MEETUPS ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BLACK MOTHERS TO REST, RELAX, AND CONNECT TO RESOURCES DURING PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM.

THIS IS A RESOURCE THAT ORGANIZATION MEMBER O'LANDREA JOI BARNES WISHES SHE KNEW ABOUT BEFORE HER FIRST PREGNANCY.

BARNES: I DID NOT KNOW OF QUEEN'S VILLAGE OR CRADLE CINCINNATI UNTIL I WAS GOING TO HAVING MY SECOND CHILD.

LAGUERRE: JOI WENT THROUGH FOUR PREGNANCIES, AND IT WAS DURING HER THIRD ONE IN 2023 THAT A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE MADE HER AWARE OF THE INFANT MORTALITY CRISIS AFFECTING BLACK WOMEN.

BARNES: BEFORE I LOST MY DAUGHTER TO STILLBIRTH, I ACTUALLY WENT TO THE HOSPITAL THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME REASON.

I WAS NOT LISTENED TO.

I WAS NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

ULTIMATELY, I GOT SENT HOME.

24 HOURS LATER, I WENT TO MY DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT AND MY CHILD WAS, YOU KNOW, RIGHT -- RIGHT SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF LABOR PREPARING TO BE BORN.

LAGUERRE: DO YOU FEEL LIKE IF YOU WERE LISTENED TO THE FIRST TIME YOU WENT TO THE HOSPITAL, LIKE, DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE?

BARNES: ABSOLUTELY.

WOULD IT HAVE CHANGED THE OUTCOME?

NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT IT DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE.

LAGUERRE: DURING HER FOURTH PREGNANCY, SHE AND HER HUSBAND UTILIZED AN INITIATIVE FROM QUEEN'S VILLAGE CALLED MAMA CERTIFIED.

BARNES: ALSO, PATIENT CARE WAS BIG FOR ME AS WELL, COMING OFF OF A LOSS, SO THAT WAS HOW I USED MAMA CERTIFIED.

LAGUERRE: MAMA CERTIFIED IS A HOSPITAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM TO HELP PARENTS TO BE AND FAMILIES FIND A HOSPITAL THAT MEETS THEIR NEEDS.

HOSPITALS CAN EARN THEIR CERTIFICATION BY FOLLOWING GUIDELINES THAT INCLUDE SHARING DATA WITH QUEEN'S VILLAGE TO HELP CREATE BETTER MATERNAL CARE.

JILL MILLER IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NONPROFIT PHILANTHROPY BI3.

THIS ORGANIZATION HELPS SUPPORT HEALTH EQUITY EFFORTS LIKE MAMA CERTIFIED.

SHE SAID FOR THIS INITIATIVE TO WORK AS A VIABLE RESOURCE, MAJOR HOSPITALS NEEDED TO COOPERATE WITH EACH OTHER AND THE COMMUNITY.

MILLER: THEY ALL REALIZE, LOOK, WE'RE BETTER TOGETHER AND WE ALL WANT TO IMPROVE MOM AND BABY HEALTH, AND LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO DO THAT AS A REGION.

LAGUERRE: BRICK BY BRICK SPOKE TO ALL THE MAJOR HOSPITALS IN THE REGION TO SEE SOME OF THE WAYS THEY'RE ADDRESSING THE HIGH INFANT MORTALITY RATES.

DR.

JAMES GREENBERG, THE CO-DIRECTOR OF THE PERINATAL INSTITUTE AT CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S, SAYS ISSUES WITH HOUSING STABILITY, POOR ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER SOCIO ECONOMIC OUTCOMES NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

GREENBERG: IF YOU ARE PREOCCUPIED WITH THESE REALLY SERIOUS ISSUES WHERE YOUR OWN SAFETY IS INVOLVED, THEN IT BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT FOR A HOST OF REASONS TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT PRENATAL CARE THAT YOU NEED.

LAGUERRE: SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AT TRIHEALTH JEREMIAH KIRKLAND AGREES.

HE SAYS ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH CAN IN TURN HELP MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH.

KIRKLAND: IN SOME WAYS, I THINK DEEPER TRAINING FOR US AS A HEALTH SYSTEM, BUT FOR MANY HEALTH SYSTEMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO SEE THAT, ADDRESS IT, AND THEN HAVE THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO TAKE CARE OF THAT INDIVIDUAL.

LAGUERRE: MERCY HEALTH DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY HEALTH KANAKO KASHIMA, STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF SUSTENANCE.

KASHIMA: WE'VE PARTNERED WITH A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION LOCALLY CALLED PRODUCE PERKS MIDWEST TO DELIVER INFANT VITALITY PRODUCE BOXES TO PARENTS THROUGHOUT PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM.

LAGUERRE: SLEEP RELATED DEATHS ACCOUNT FOR NEARLY A QUARTER OF THE HIGH INFANT MORTALITY RATES IN HAMILTON COUNTY.

DR.

MARCUS ROMANELLO, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AT CHRIST'S HOSPITAL, SAYS SOME FAMILIES DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES FOR SAFE SLEEP.

ROMANELLO: WE'VE MADE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THAT NEED.

EVERY SINGLE BABY GOES HOME WITH A SLEEP SACK.

THE HOUSEHOLDS THAT DON'T HAVE A CRIB, WE HELP PROVIDE THAT.

LAGUERRE: AND FROM UC HEALTH, WE HAVE CLINICAL NURSE MANAGER EVELYN AGBAMI AND HEALTH INTEGRATION MANAGER BRENNA LOGAN, WHO REMIND US OF THE WARMTH NEEDED IN HEALTH CARE.

LOGAN: HOW WE DELIVER THAT HIGH QUALITY CARE, AND MAKING SURE THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE IT IN THE SAME WAY WE INTEND FOR THEM TO EXPERIENCE IT, IS ANOTHER PORTION THAT WE HAVE TO LEARN AND GROW.

AGBAMI: WE HAVE A HOSPITALITY TEAM THAT REACHES OUT TO MOTHERS THAT ARE WELCOMED INTO THE VILLAGE.

YESTERDAY WE DID FACIALS AND MASSAGES TO OVER 42 WOMEN.

LAGUERRE: THESE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS CREATE WAVES OF POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND IT APPEARS TO BE GROWING.

SINCE 2024, 2500 HOSPITAL STAFF COMPLETED MAMA CERTIFIED TRAINING ON RACIAL EQUITY AND RESPECTFUL MATERNITY CARE.

MILLER SAYS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN IMPROVE CARE FOR MOTHERS AND DECREASE INFANT MORTALITY IS BY COMMUNICATING WITH ALL ENTITIES.

MILLER: WE WANT TO LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS, LISTEN TO OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS, LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SERVE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS, SUCH AS MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH, SO THAT WE COLLECTIVELY CAN CO-CREATE SOLUTIONS THAT LEAD TO BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES.

LAGUERRE: THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF QUEEN'S VILLAGE MORE HOSPITALS ARE BECOMING MAMA CERTIFIED.

AND CRADLE CINCINNATI TOLD BRICK BY BRICK THAT THE NEWEST FACILITY GETTING THEIR CERTIFICATION IS TRIHEALTH MCCULLOUGH-HYDE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.

THEY'LL BE RECEIVING THEIR BADGE DURING THE THIRD ANNUAL MAMA CERTIFIED BADGING EVENT THIS SPRING.

FOR BRICK BY BRICK, I'M HERNZ LAGUERRE, JR.

THOMPSON: WELL, WE SHOULD ALL RECOGNIZE THAT THE RECENT INFANT MORTALITY NUMBERS HAVE GONE UP FROM HISTORIC LOWS AND THERE'S MORE TO LEARN.

THIS CRADLE CINCINNATI MODEL IS BEING TOUTED BY THE STATE AS PART OF ITS PARTNER FOR CHANGE PROGRAM.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY IS AMONG FOUR COUNTIES WHO HAVE PRIORITY FOR THIS ROLLOUT BECAUSE OF THEIR HIGH INFANT MORTALITY RATES, AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER.

IT'S CALLED ROOTS TO RISE DAYTON; NURTURING MOMS AND BABIES AND BRINGS TOGETHER HOSPITALS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITY CARE PROVIDERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO DRIVE THE DEATH RATE DOWN.

DAYTON CHILDREN'S SERVES AS THE LEAD COORDINATOR FOR THE REGION.

WE'LL DEFINITELY BE KEEPING AN EYE ON THIS EFFORT GOING FORWARD HERE AT BRICK BY BRICK AND BRINGING YOU UPDATES AS WE LEARN MORE.

WELCOME BACK TO BRICK BY BRICK.

AREA MOTHERS WE SPOKE WITH CREDITED DOULAS WITH HELPING THEM DELIVER A HEALTHY BABY AND EVEN DEALING WITH POSTPARTUM CHALLENGES.

DOULAS ARE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS WHO SUPPORT PREGNANT MOMS BY OFFERING BOTH PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER.

AS BRICK BY BRICK'S EMIKO MOORE SHARES WITH US, THE UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON'S FITZ CENTER RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE AND IS OFFERING TARGETED SCHOLARSHIPS TO ADDRESS BLACK INFANT AND MATERNAL MORTALITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS IMPACTED MOST.

MOORE: ADRIENNE JACOBSON, A FORMER TV REPORTER WHO CURRENTLY WORKS AT THE NONPROFIT PINK RIBBON GOOD, HAS ONE TODDLER AND IS EXPECTING ANOTHER CHILD.

JACOBSON: I JUST ENTERED MY THIRD TRIMESTER, SO THAT'S EXCITING.

IT'S GAME TIME.

WE'RE AT THE FINISH LINE.

IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT THIS TIME, WHICH IS NICE.

IT'S A LOT MORE PEACEFUL, A LOT MORE CALM.

MOORE: IN HER FIRST PREGNANCY, JACOBSON WAS WORKING AS A NEWS ANCHOR IN NORTH DAKOTA AND CONTINUED TO HAVE PAINFUL SYMPTOMS.

JACOBSON: MY HANDS WERE ITCHING.

I WAS LIKE, CRYING IN WALMART BECAUSE, LIKE, WE JUST GOT HERE, BUT LIKE WALKING AROUND, MY FEET ARE BURNING.

LIKE I CANNOT STAND UP AND WALK.

LIKE, WHAT IS GOING ON?

THEY'RE ITCHING.

EVERYTHING'S BURNING.

AND I'M SAYING THESE THINGS TO MY DOCTOR AND THEY'RE LIKE, "OH, THAT'S NORMAL.

THIS IS A NORMAL PART OF PREGNANCY.

JUST MAKE SURE YOU'RE HYDRATED.

JUST MAKE SURE YOU'RE MOISTURIZED."

BUT I'M LIKE, "THIS IS NOT NORMAL."

MOORE: SHE EVEN BEGAN TO QUESTION HER OWN JUDGMENT.

JACOBSON: AFTER BEING TOLD SOMETHING IS NORMAL SO MANY TIMES IT'S JUST LIKE, "OKAY, WELL, I'M BEING A BOTHER.

LET ME STOP ASKING."

MOORE: BUT COLLEAGUES CONVINCED HER TO SEE A SPECIALIST WHO IMMEDIATELY ADVISED DELIVERING WITHIN THREE DAYS OR RISK A STILLBIRTH.

STUNNED, JACOBSON WAS FRUSTRATED AT HOW THE OTHER DOCTOR HAD DISMISSED HER SYMPTOMS.

JACOBSON: SO I WAS LIKE, I TRUSTED YOU AS A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND I KNOW PEOPLE ARE LIKE, "OH, WE SHOULDN'T SEE COLOR AND THINGS LIKE THAT."

BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR HEALTHCARE.

MOORE: JACOBSON DELIVERED A HEALTHY BOY, NOW TWO YEARS OLD, BUT HIS RESOLUTE THIS PREGNANCY BE DIFFERENT.

SHE HIRED ALAYZIA PONDER WITH NURTURE YOUR NATURE DOULA SERVICES IN DAYTON.

PONDER: SO A DOULA IS BASICALLY YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM THROUGHOUT PREGNANCY, LABOR AND BIRTH, BREASTFEEDING AND POSTPARTUM.

DOCTORS AND PROVIDERS ARE INTIMIDATING, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BLIND TRUST IN THEM, AND THERE'S NOT A SAFE SPACE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS OR TO CHALLENGE THE THINGS THAT THEY SAY.

AND THAT'S ONE OF MY JOBS AS A DOULA IS TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M OPENING THAT SAFE SPACE FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MY CLIENTS AND THE CARE TEAM.

MOORE: IN 2024 THE DOULA INITIATIVE WAS CREATED IN DAYTON TO IMPROVE BIRTH OUTCOMES FOR BLACK WOMEN.

SHARON HAWKINS IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE PROGRAM.

HAWKINS: I WAS HEARING IT FROM PEOPLE ON THE GROUND THAT THIS WAS A SOLUTION, AND THEN I DID MY OWN RESEARCH FOR A YEAR AND A HALF LOOKING UP HOW DOULAS HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE IN OTHER CITIES, OTHER AREAS.

MOORE: ACCORDING TO HAWKINS, THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF DOULAS, JUST NOT AS MANY WILLING TO WORK IN CERTAIN ZIP CODES.

HAWKINS: IT'S VITAL IN COMING INTO OUR DOULA INITIATIVE THAT WOMEN WHO ARE RECRUITED ARE RECRUITED SPECIFICALLY FROM THE ZIP CODES THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF INFANT MORTALITY, OF PRETERM BIRTH AND OF LOW BIRTH WEIGHT.

MOORE: ACCORDING TO HAWKINS, THE ZIP CODES ARE 45402,03, 04, 05, 06, 17 AND 26.

THEY HAVE HIGH RATES OF PRETERM BIRTH AND LOW BIRTH WEIGHT, PRECURSORS TO INFANT MORTALITY THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE.

HAWKINS: IF YOU ARE GROWN UP IN AN ENVIRONMENT, YOU UNDERSTAND THE STRESSORS THAT ARE IN THAT ENVIRONMENT, AND YOU HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE DISADVANTAGES.

AND YOU CAN OVERCOME THOSE BECAUSE YOU HAVE OVERCOME THOSE.

MOORE: A STIPEND PAYS FOR THE SEVEN MONTH DOULA PROGRAM, WHICH COMBINES BIRTH COACHING AND BUSINESS TRAINING.

HAWKINS: HAVING A BUSINESS FOUNDATION AND THE ABILITY TO START YOUR BUSINESS CAN OPEN A WHOLE WIDE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE WOMEN THAT ARE PART OF THE DOULA INITIATIVE.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT.

MOORE: STATE LEGISLATION, COUPLED WITH THE STATE BUDGET, MADE BIRTH COACHES ACCESSIBLE TO MOTHERS IN OHIO.

HAWKINS: WE WERE ABLE TO GET THIS BILL PASSED IN OCTOBER OF 2024 FOR MEDICAID TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THE DOULAS.

MOORE: THE FIRST COHORT OF DOULAS, WHICH INCLUDE ALAYZIA PONDER, IS WORKING TO FORM A JOINT DOULA BUSINESS CALLED THE BIRTHRIGHT COLLECTIVE TO SHARE THEIR VARYING STRENGTHS, SUCH AS NUTRITION AND HERBAL KNOWLEDGE.

THEY RECENTLY MET WITH A LAWYER TO DISCUSS MOVING IT FORWARD.

PONDER: LUCKILY, WITH THE BIRTHRIGHT DOULA COLLECTIVE, WE HAVE A TEAM OF DOULAS, SO IF THERE WAS AT ANY POINT THAT I NEEDED TO TAP OUT, I COULD ALWAYS TAG SOMEBODY IN.

AND IN THAT CASE, YOU WOULD KNOW WHO THAT WOULD BE AHEAD OF TIME, A BACKUP DOULA, OF COURSE.

JACOBSON: MY HUSBAND IS REALLY VERY HELPFUL.

AND SO I'M EXCITED FOR YOU TO, LIKE, NOT PUT HIM TO WORK, BUT PUT HIM TO WORK IN THE LABOR ROOM.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

PONDER: AS MUCH AS YOU WORK.

YOU KNOW, HE CAN BREAK A SWEAT, TOO.

JACOBSON: HE CAN HELP WITH SOME EXERCISES ON THE BALL AND DO SOME MASSAGES.

SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW YOU HELP INCORPORATE HIM INTO THE LABOR PROCESS.

AND I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A MUCH MORE CALMING AND PEACEFUL EXPERIENCE.

I'M EXCITED.

THOMPSON: BRICK BY BRICK WILL BE FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM AND THE DIFFERENCE IT'S MAKING IN THE COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE INFANT MORTALITY IS SUCH A PROBLEM ACROSS THE US THERE ARE OTHER PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO DECREASE THE NUMBERS.

IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, A PROGRAM CALLED FAMILY CONNECTS STARTED IN 2008 AND HAS BEEN TRIED IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS 20 STATES.

NPR REPORTS IN NEW ORLEANS, IT'S RUN BY THE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

MOMS GET THREE VISITS WHERE NURSES WEIGH, MEASURE AND EXAMINE THE BABIES AND CHECK IN ON THE MOTHER'S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

IN 2025, LOUISIANA LAWMAKERS PASSED A LAW REQUIRING PRIVATE INSURANCE PLANS TO COVER THE VISITS.

NPR REPORTS, TWO YEARS IN TULANE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH SHOWS FAMILIES WHO GOT THE VISITS WERE MORE LIKELY TO STICK WITH THE RECOMMENDED SCHEDULE OF PEDIATRIC AND POSTPARTUM CHECKUPS.

MOMS AND BABIES WERE ALSO LESS LIKELY TO NEED HOSPITALIZATION, AND OVERALL HEALTH CARE SPENDING WAS DOWN AMONG FAMILIES COVERED BY MEDICAID.

RESEARCH IN NORTH CAROLINA, WHERE FAMILY CONNECTS STARTED, SHOWED IT REDUCED E.R.

VISITS BY 50% BEFORE THE BABY TURNED ONE.

AND FOR EVERY $1 INVESTED IN THE PROGRAM, IT SAVED $3.17 IN HEALTH CARE BILLING BEFORE THE CHILD TURNED TWO.

IN A NUMBER OF WAYS THE EFFORT IS SIMILAR TO THE CRADLE CINCINNATI APPROACH, IMPROVING RESPONSIVENESS OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM TO THE ACTUAL NEEDS OF BIRTHING PARENTS, BUT ALSO THROUGH THOSE COVERED CHECKUPS, REINFORCING THE NEED FOR PROACTIVE PRENATAL AND POSTPARTUM CARE AND WORKING TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO IT.

WE KNOW CHALLENGES LIKE INFANT MORTALITY ARE NOT EASY TO SOLVE, BUT THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE, TO EXPLORE THE RESPONSES AND TO SHARE WHAT WE FIND WITH YOU, OUR NEIGHBORS.

WE ALSO WANT TO ENGAGE WITH YOU.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE SOLUTIONS WE EXPLORE?

YOU CAN SHARE THEM AND LEARN MORE BY HEADING TO THE BRICK BY BRICK SHOW PAGE AT CETCONNECT.ORG AND THINKTV.ORG.

I'M ENCOURAGED WITH THE CREATIVITY IN THIS SPACE AND COMING UP WITH SOLUTIONS.

IT'S TIME FOR TAKEAWAYS AND FINDING OUT WHAT THE TEAM HAS TO SAY.

I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CRADLE CINCINNATI HAS DONE GREAT WORK OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS, MERGING MEDICAL AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS.

HOWEVER, WE'VE NOTICED THAT THE INFANT MORTALITY RATE IS STARTING TO GO UP A LITTLE BIT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

THE RESEARCHERS ARE NOT SITTING IDLY BY, THOUGH.

THEY'VE ALREADY COME UP WITH ANOTHER POSSIBLE SOLUTION, A PILOT PROGRAM CALLED QUEEN'S VILLAGE CORNER, IN THAT IT PROVIDES ANOTHER PERSON FOR THE PREGNANT WOMAN GOING TO THE DOCTOR, TAKING NOTES, FINDING OUT AS THEY REALLY GET TO KNOW HER IF SHE HAS TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS, WHAT HER HOUSING SITUATION IS LIKE, AND IF SHE NEEDS ANY MENTAL HEALTH.

LAGUERRE: AND HONESTLY, I THINK, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL SUPPORT LIKE THAT IS NEEDED BECAUSE JILL MILLER AND DR.

MEREDITH SMITH SAID IN THEIR BOOK, INFANT MORTALITY AND OTHER WICKED PROBLEMS THAT INFANT MORTALITY IS NOT ONLY COSTLY TO THE FAMILY, BUT TO A COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

EVEN WHEN PRETERM BABIES SURVIVE TO YEAR ONE, YOU GOT TO THINK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL COST A COMMUNITY MAY FACE, THE POTENTIAL ONGOING COSTS, SUCH AS SPECIALIZED CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES OR OTHER CHRONIC HEALTH ISSUES, OR EVEN THE LOSS OF POTENTIAL FUTURE EARNINGS FOR SAID CHILDREN.

INVESTMENT INTO A COMMUNITY, ON THE CONTRARY, YOU KNOW, INVESTMENT INTO A COMMUNITY CENTERED CARE, INTO PREVENTATIVE CARE, PRENATAL CARE SHOWS GREAT RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

ACCORDING TO A PEW STUDY DONE IN THE US, THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED INTO COMMUNITY CENTERED CARE SHOWS A SAVINGS OF ABOUT $14.

SO IN THE SAME WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TOLD TO CHANGE YOUR OIL EVERY 5000 MILES INSTEAD OF 15,000 MILES, BECAUSE IT'S EASIER TO PREVENT AN ISSUE THAN TO TREAT IT.

INFANT MORTALITY IN MANY SOCIETAL ISSUES WORK IN THE SAME EXACT WAY.

MOORE: AND THERE ARE SO MANY COSTS INVOLVED WITH RAISING A CHILD.

ONE OF THEM, YOU KNOW, BREASTFEEDING HAS ITS BENEFITS BECAUSE IT HELPS A MOTHER BOND WITH A CHILD, AND IT ALSO GIVES IMMUNITY TO THE CHILDREN.

BUT STATISTICS SHOW THAT BLACK WOMEN ARE LESS LIKELY TO BREASTFEED THAN THEIR OTHER GROUP COUNTERPARTS.

AND I SPOKE WITH SOME WOMEN IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, AND THEY SHARED WITH ME THAT THERE'S STILL THIS STIGMA AROUND IT AND THAT HAS A LEGACY FROM KIND OF A HISTORICAL CONTEXT WHEN A LOT OF BLACK WOMEN WERE FORCED TO BE WET NURSES FOR OTHER FAMILIES, OFTEN TO THE DETRIMENT OF THEIR OWN CHILDREN.

AND SO A LOT OF MOTHERS ARE REALLY MISSING OUT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF CONNECT WITH THEIR CHILDREN, BUT TO PASS DOWN TRADITIONS.

AND LET'S HOPE THAT THERE'S OTHER MORE POSITIVE MESSAGING AROUND THIS.

THOMPSON: AND YOU'RE SHARING OF THAT BACKGROUND INFORMATION JUST PROVES THERE'S SO MANY LAYERS TO THIS PROBLEM, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SOLVE, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO DIG DEEPER.

THANKS FOR YOUR THOUGHTS, GUYS.

LAGUERRE: NO PROBLEM.

THOMPSON: WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW.

WE HOPE YOU GAINED SOME INSIGHT INTO THIS SERIOUS CHALLENGE AND POSSIBLE WAYS TO TURN THINGS AROUND.

IF YOU FOUND IT HELPFUL, SHARE IT WITH A FRIEND, FAMILY, OR A NEIGHBOR.

FOR HERNZ LAGUERRE, JR.

AND EMIKO MOORE, I'M ANN THOMPSON.

WE'LL BE BACK SOON WITH MORE SOLUTIONS.

TAKE CARE.