POLITICS

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and health commissioner call on faith leaders to help fight infant deaths

Mary Spicuzza

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Mayor Tom Barrett and Health Commissioner Jeanette Kowalik are calling on faith leaders to help them combat infant deaths in Milwaukee.

A newborn sleeps in his crib, which is properly outfitted for his safety.

Barrett and Kowalik spoke Tuesday at an event celebrating that more than 30 local churches have become "Strong Baby Sanctuaries," where pregnant women and new families can find information on community resources.

"I'd like to stand before you and say that we have made great progress in reducing infant mortality, but we need to do a lot more," Barrett said. "Tragically, if you are a parent in this city, a black baby has a three times greater chance of dying. That is not acceptable."

The effort, co-sponsored by Ascension Wisconsin, is linked to Sunday's upcoming Strong Baby Sabbath.

Milwaukee's infant mortality numbers have improved, but there are still glaring racial disparities. The gap between the African-American and white infant mortality rates has narrowed, but black babies in Milwaukee died at nearly three times the rate of white babies, statistics released last year show.

More than half of all infant deaths in Milwaukee County last year were related to an unsafe sleep environment, according to the Milwaukee County medical examiner's office.

Barrett on Tuesday also stressed the importance of health care and links between premature births and baby deaths.

"I believe that there are so many places where the churches are far more effective than any government can ever be," Barrett said.

The Strong Baby Sanctuary effort, which began in 2015 with 10 churches, supports the goal of reducing Milwaukee’s overall infant mortality rate by 10 percent and the African-American infant mortality rate by 15 percent.

Kowalik, who was sworn in as health commissioner last month, said she was committed to helping to overhaul the Health Department, which has been struggling for months in the wake of revelations that staffers failed to follow up with the families of lead-poisoned children.

"A lot of great things have been happening, and I want to be a part of that movement to change the narrative," she said.

A leading cause of infant deaths in Milwaukee are complications linked to premature births, she said.

In her speech, Kowalik also stressed the "ABCs" of safe sleep, namely the recommendations that babies sleep alone, on their backs in cribs, bassinets or pack 'n plays (without pillows, blankets, bumper pads or toys), and in smoke-free homes.

"When we know better we can do better," Kowalik said. "Research has given us the tools to know better, we need to acknowledge the evidence on bed-sharing and change our customs. We have to do better."