This weekend, Chattanooga teens are taking the cause of infant mortality awareness directly to legislators in Washington, D.C.
Ten students — six girls and four boys — from Hamilton County are going on a trip to the nation’s capitol today through June 9 to discuss infant mortality with Tennessee Sens. Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander.
The teens are participants in Girls Inc.’s infant mortality awareness program, called Impact, said Cora Lanier, director of program operations for Girls Inc.
INFANT MORTALITY STATSInfant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2008:* Hamilton County: 9.7* Tennessee: 8.0* U.S. 6.2Source: Tennessee Department of HealthSTATE FUNDING APPROVEDThe Tennessee legislature approved a budget on Friday that restored funding for the Office of Children’s Care Coordination, which seeks to reduce Tennessee’s infant mortality rate. The state gives the program — established by Bredesen in 2004 — $4.5 million annually, which is matched by federal funds.Source: The Associated Press
“They have an amazing passion and drive about this subject,” she said. “I think the passion also grows because they become more aware of how many of their peers have no clue about this.”
Kermisha Tate, 18, said she’s eager to get the word out to her peers — and the state’s national representatives — that infant mortality is an urgent problem.
The recent Boyd-Buchanan School graduate also traveled to Washington last year with Girls Inc. when the group went to lobby legislators for the first time on the infant mortality issue.
“It’s just a startling realization that our babies are dying,” she said. “It’s really important for teenagers to realize the importance of things they do now and how it affects their future.”
Girls Inc.’s infant mortality awareness program connects teen advocates with their peers to get the word out about the large number of babies in Tennessee who die before their first birthday. Participants have made in-school presentations, and they have filmed, edited and starred in their own public service announcements, organizers say.