To Lower Nashville’s Infant Mortality Rate, Health Officials Will Start Home Visits

Nashville’s public health department will start making home visits to mothers in ZIP codes with high rates of infant mortality.

The program, announced Tuesday, is being supported by roughly $1 million a year from the federal government.

It’s called the Nashville Strong Babies Project, and D’Yuanna Allen-Robb, who oversees maternal and child health for the city, says it’s not meant to single out any mothers.

“I can say that every family can always use some additional support — some families more than others,” she says. “This is really a demonstration of our commitment as a city that every child that is born here will have the same potential and the same opportunities.”

Metro plans to hire at least 10 staffers to meet with mothers and newborns in these infant mortality hotspots, assisting with both health concerns as well as job training and child care. The city is also paying for group prenatal and pediatric care.

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Caseworkers will start visiting when a woman is pregnant and continue until the child is 18 months old. That way, Allen-Robb says they can understand a family’s challenges and develop a deeper level of trust.

“Being able to see families in their home environment tells a home visitor much more about what is happening with that family, what that family needs,” Allen-Robb says, adding that families also tend to be more comfortable at home than visiting a social service agency.

The Metro Health Department plans to serve 700 women a year living in the 37115, 37207, 37208, 37210, 37216, 37218 and 37221 ZIP codes.