Nashville Strong Babies program celebrates anniversary amid fears of cuts
Why it matters: The program has been a resounding local success story, highlighted by no infant deaths and no maternal deaths among its participants since it was launched in 2019.
The big picture: Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell and the Metro Council increased local money for Nashville Strong Babies this year, adding more staff to the program at a time when it was rumored to be facing federal funding cuts.
The city's newly passed budget includes an additional $334,700 for the increased staffing.
The intrigue: The program has been primarily funded with about $1 million in annual federal grants, but that looked precarious as the Trump administration slashed budgets.
Earlier this year the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services flagged $11 billion in potential funding cuts, including the money that goes to Metro for Nashville Strong Babies. The city received about half of its expected allotment earlier this year, and expects to receive the other half in October.
Beyond that, city leaders worry federal support could be at risk.
Flashback: Nashville Strong Babies was launched in seven Nashville ZIP codes that had higher infant mortality rates.
The Metro Department of Health initiative pairs expecting mothers with a care coordinator who provides wrap-around services with the goal of starting a baby's life in a healthy way.
Specialists help mothers navigate health insurance, provide childbirth education and breastfeeding support, and connect them to other community resources. Doula services and nutritional education are staples of the program.
The services, which are free to the mother, continue until a baby turns 18 months.
By the numbers: Since the program expanded countywide a year ago, 516 families have participated.
Nashville Strong Babies has seen 92% of its babies born at a healthy birth rate, 91% are born full-term and 100% of doula-supported mothers continue to feed their babies breastmilk.
What he's saying:"More Nashville children are able to celebrate their first birthday, and since the inception of the program, every mother that participated has survived," O'Connell said. "That's remarkable because more Tennessee women die while pregnant or within one year of childbirth more than any other state in the nation."
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