The Center for Black Women's Wellness Urges Atlantans to "Sound the Alarm, Make a Noise, Make a Difference and End Infant Mortality" for National Infant Mortality Awareness Month (September)

The Center for Black Women's Wellness Urges Atlantans to "Sound the Alarm, Make a Noise, Make a Difference and End Infant Mortality" for National Infant Mortality Awareness Month (September)

WHAT: Join the Center for Black Women's Wellness (CBWW) as they kick off National Infant Mortality Awareness Month, this month, with a Balloon Release Ceremony and Reception, on September 14, 2012 at the Dunbar Community Center grounds (room 302); 477 Windsor Street, Atlanta, GA 30312 at 5 p.m. This kick-off event will pay tribute to the babies who have died before their first birthday, while serving as an opportunity for everyone to be aware of and to make a noise with their voices and choices to help put an end to this crisis.  

WHY: While this is a national concern, CBWW's Atlanta Healthy Start program has been dedicated to improving pregnancy and birth outcomes among high risk women in Atlanta for 14 years.  Reports produced by Georgia Department of Public Health reveal that between 2002 and 2006 the number of infant deaths before their first birthday in Georgia was 15 to 20 percent higher than the national average. Within this mix, African-American babies were dying at a rate that was two and a half times higher than the majority. Not to mention, most of which happened within the first 28 days of each baby's life.

In an effort to reduce these  high statistics, CBWW has invited a number of local officials, community organizers and health professionals along with mothers and families impacted by the loss of an infant to join them on September 14th to address the infant mortality crisis in Georgia while honoring those babies who have died through a  balloon  release.

This event is just the beginning of month-long celebrations for CBWW's "Sound the Alarm, Make a Noise, Make a Difference and End Infant Mortality."  See additional events below.

WHEN:

Balloon Release Ceremony and Reception

September 14, 2012

5p.m.

WHERE:

Dunbar Community Center  (room 207)

477 Windsor Street

Atlanta, GA 30312

CBWW CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR INFANT MORTALITY AWARENESS MONTH:  September 14 Dancing to Make a Difference! Line Dancing  6:00-8:00 p.m. Dunbar Neighborhood Community Center (in the Gym) 477 Windsor Street, Atlanta, GA 30312

September 20 "Back to Sleep," Decreasing the Risk of SIDS Workshop  6:00-7:30 p.m. Center for Black Women's Wellness, Inc. 477 Windsor Street, (Room #302), Atlanta, GA 30312

September 21 Community Health Fair  3:00-6:00 p.m. Sheltering Arms Early Learning Literacy Center @ Dunbar 404 Fulton Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30312

September 25, 2012  Atlanta Healthy Start Initiative Consortium Meeting  Preconception Health/Leading Causes of Infant Mortality featuring Dr. Seema Csukas 12:00-2:00p.m. Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center 967 Dewey Street Atlanta, GA  30310 Dr. Csukas is the Director of the Maternal and Child Health Section in the Georgia Department of Public Health.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

To learn more about CBWW's events for National Infant Mortality Awareness Month, contact Natasha Worthy via email at NWorthy@cbww.org.  To request interviews with a CBWW representative or photos from the Balloon Release Ceremony and Reception, please submit your request to Valencia Walton at vwalton@brainchildassociates.com.

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About the Center for Black Women's Wellness:

The Center for Black Women's Wellness, Inc. (CBWW) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that provides free and low-cost services to empower black women and their families, toward physical, mental and economic wellness. Established in 1988, CBWW has assisted more than 12,000 metro Atlanta women. Visit www.cbww.org for more information.