Ohio awards $20 million to help advance infant health

OHIO — As Ohio sees its lowest infant mortality rate in years, the state announced it's awarding $20 million over the biennium in grants to 21 nonprofits across the state to help improve infant health outcomes. 

The grants will be used to link expectant parents and caregivers to education, support and other services. 

“Ohio’s infant mortality rate is the lowest it’s been in two decades—6.6 per 1,000 live births,” said Governor DeWine. “That’s a sign that our investments in supporting families—before, during, and after pregnancy—are working. But we must keep going because every child deserves the opportunity to grow up healthy and strong.”

The Ohio Department of Children and Youth selected the 21 grantees through a competitive process. DCY found that these organizations helped deliver prenatal education, parenting classes, referrals, case management and material assistance for their communities. 

“We are continuing our investment in the health and future of Ohio’s families,” said Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel. “These grants will support organizations that provide critical services to women and families during and after pregnancy, helping ensure every child has a strong start and every parent has access to the support they need.”

The grantees include: 

• A Step in the Right Direction – Columbus
• Aim Women’s Center – Steubenville
• Baby University – Toledo
• Bowling Green Pregnancy Center – Bowling Green
• Chasing Hope House – Columbus
• Choosing Hope Adoptions – Springfield
• Compassion Health Toledo – Toledo
• Cornerstone Pregnancy Services DBA Cornerstone Women’s Health Center & Lilli Women’s Center – Elyria
• Elizabeth’s New Life Center, Inc. – Dayton
• Family Life Center of Auglaize County – Wapakoneta
• Heartbeat of Lima County, Inc. – Lima
• Hope, Love, and Dream, Inc. – Columbus
• Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio – Toledo
• It’s Not a Moment, But a Movement – Copley
• Motivated and Empowered Inc. – Olmsted Falls
• PDHC (Pregnancy Decision Health Centers) – Columbus
• Pregnancy Resource Center of Athens County – Athens
• Pregnancy Support Network – Canton
• Refuge Host Homes – Cuyahoga Falls
• The CORE Center (DBA Pregnancy Resource of Delaware County) – Delaware
• Women’s Care Center Inc. – Columbus

For more information, click here.