The Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative (IMRI) was established in 2001 by the New York City Council, which provides funding through the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to dozens of community-based organizations (CBOs). IMRI promotes women's health before, during and after pregnancy, and works to improve outcomes for infants in order to reduce infant mortality and narrow racial/ethnic disparities in these areas.
Through IMRI, The Bronx Health Link works with eight CBOs in the Bronx that provide outreach and referrals, health education workshops, and case management services:
- African Services Committee
- Bronx Works
- Community Healthcare Network
- Good Shepherds Services
- Morris Heights Health Center
- Planned Parenthood of NYC
- St. Barnabas Hospital
- Urban Health Plan
The IMRI-funded CBOs are particularly skilled in helping connect women and families with perinatal health care, health insurance and other social services and health programs, and get families into medical homes that provide consistent access to various health care services.
A thorough independent evaluation of the citywide program by Philliber Research Associates published in 2010 found that IMRI is:
- successfully targeting young women of color,
- serving sizeable numbers of people, and
- using practices that have been demonstrated to effectively reduce low birthweight, short-term pregnancies and lower infant mortality.
More information:
If you are interested in learning more about the activities and services of the Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative of The Bronx Health Link, please email Paulette Spencer at pspencer@bronxhealthlink.org.