In May 2005, the Governor’s Infant Mortality Task Force (IMTF) issued a report on Delaware’s high infant mortality rate. The report included twenty (20) recommendations to reduce the number of Delaware babies who die before their first birthday, and eliminate the racial disparity in the rate at which these babies die. The report also concluded that healthy women have healthy babies.

The Delaware Healthy Mother and Infant Consortium (DHMIC) was estabished as a successor to the IMTF to advocate for, and oversee, the implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force.

To learn about the recommendations of the IMTF:

• Report of the IMTF

To learn about the implementation of the IMTF recommendations:

• Delaware Healthy Mother and Infant Consortium (DHMIC)
• Infant Mortality Program

To learn about how we are tracking progress:

• Infant Mortality Data (Vital Statistics Reports)
• The Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) in Delaware
• Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)
• Maternal and Child Death Review Commission (Reports)

To learn about becoming an Advocate:

• Delaware Healthy Mother and Infant Consortium (DHMIC)

To learn about available Health and Social Services:

• Delaware Medicaid and Medical Assistance
• The Healthy Women, Healthy Babies (HWHB) Program, an enhanced prenatal and postpartum care program
• Family Planning
• Healthy Lifestyles
• Home Visiting Program
• Preconception Care Program
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program

Enhanced Prenatal and Postpartum Care

The program provides enhanced prenatal care and interconception care for women. Services are targeted to women who:

• had a preterm birth, low birthweight baby, an infant death, stillbirth or fetal death,
• are African American/black women,
• are Medicaid eligible, medically underinsured, or uninsured,
• have chronic diseases including hypertension and diabetes,
• have psychosocial risk factors, or
• are in need of increased social supports.

Services provided under this program include:

• Routine prenatal care with referral system for high risk pregnancies
• Following pregnancy for up to two years postpartum, access to preconception care for women which includes but is not limited to:
  • reproductive health services,
  • psychosocial needs,
  • nutrition counseling,
  • contraceptive education and counseling,
  • pregnancy diagnosis and counseling,
  • access to a broad range of contraceptive methods,
  • testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) including gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis,
  • testing and treatment referral for human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS),
  • Level 1 infertility counseling
  • Genetics information, education and referral
• Screening for alcohol, drug, and tobacco use and referral to smoking cessation and drug treatment programs
• Nursing services to provide enhanced patient education and anticipatory guidance on site and at the patients’ home
• Trained community support services personnel to provide street level outreach, reinforce patient education, assist patients with social service needs
• Social work services to address family psychosocial needs
• Nutrition services including basic nutrition counseling, breastfeeding promotion and support, folic acid education and specialized counseling for patients with chronic diseases or pregnancy induced complications which may result in poor birth outcomes
• Oral health education and referral

For more information contact:

For more information contact the Infant Mortality Program

• Return to the Infant Mortality Program homepage

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