On May 5, 2008, stakeholders from state, local and federal government, non-profit and community organizations, parents, third-party payors, advocacy groups and others came together at the Lansing Center in Lansing to discuss the issues impacting Michigan's infant mortality rate and the racial disparities in infant mortality.
Dr. Michael Lu, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology and public health at UCLA, gave the keynote presentation on "Racial Ethnic Disparities and Infant Mortality: A Life Course Perspective."
Barbara Sabol, Program Director for Health at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, spoke in general session and in a breakout session on addressing racism in infant mortality.
Other breakout sessions included topics on Healthy Start Projects, Perinatal Regionalization, Maternal Mortality, Maternal and Infant Health Program, Evaluation and Research, FIMR, and Southeast Michigan Infant Mortality Reduction Efforts.
Videotaped presentations on Dr. Lu's keynote speech, Addressing Racism in Infant Mortality Disparities, Healthy Start, and Championing Infant Mortality Reduction are posted on the Reducing Infant Mortality in Michigan website and are available for continuing education units for nurses.
Materials from other breakout sessions will also be posted on the website. Other information, including a final report from the May 5 meeting, will be added to the site in the future.