The Eliminating Racial Disparities in Infant Mortality Task Force members worked with local, state, and national leaders to identify needed changes to address Ohio’s racial disparities in infant mortality.

The Eliminating Racial Disparities in Infant Mortality Task Force created a bold road map for change in actionable, practical, but ambitious recommendations aimed at accelerating the rate of change needed to overcome decades of disparities in birth outcomes. You can read and download the recommendations here: Final Recommendations of the Eliminating Disparities in Infant Mortality Task Force.

In December 2020, Governor Mike DeWine announced the establishment of the Eliminating Racial Disparities in Infant Mortality Task Force. Task Force members collaborated with local, state, and national leaders to identify necessary changes to address Ohio’s racial disparities in infant mortality. With the goal of developing a statewide shared vision and strategy to reduce infant mortality rates and eliminate racial disparities by 2030, the Task Force created actionable recommendations focused on interventions, performance and quality improvement, data collection, and policies. These findings will guide the Governor’s Office of Children’s Initiatives in refining Ohio’s investments and strategies to combat racial inequities in birth outcomes.

In 2023, 904 Ohio infants died before their first birthday, a decrease of 10 from 2022, according to the 2023 Infant Mortality Report. There were 275 Non-Hispanic (NH) Black infant deaths in 2023, an increase of 2 from 2022. In 2023, while the total number of infant deaths was down slightly compared to 2022, the infant mortality rate (IMR) remained the same at 7.1 both years. The IMR among NH Black infants increased to 13.7 in 2023 from 13.4 in 2022. There is a large disparity in infant mortality rates among NH Black and NH White infants. The Black/White infant mortality ratio remained 2.4 in 2023 compared with 2022. This means that NH Black infants are 2.4 times more likely to die than NH White infants in Ohio. Since 2014, the Black/White infant mortality ratio has remained stable. NH Black infants died from prematurity-related causes at three times the rate of NH White infants, from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) at nearly four times the rate of NH White infants, and from external injuries, including accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed at more than three times the rate of NH White infants. 

A Collaborative Approach

The Eliminating Racial Disparities in Infant Mortality Task Force adopted a focused, multidisciplinary, and collaborative approach to health improvement. This involved coordinating with members of communities experiencing high infant mortality rates, as well as with internal and external stakeholders who serve groups disproportionately affected by poor birth outcomes. The Task Force:

• Provided Governor DeWine with actionable recommendations to address and eliminate racial disparities in the infant mortality rate.
• Developed a roadmap to guide Ohio in achieving the federal Healthy People 2030 goals for all babies, aiming for 5.0 or fewer infant deaths per 1,000 births.
• Engaged Black women, families, and communities through 41 listening sessions across 11 counties to ensure the recommendations were grounded in real-world experiences.

Meeting Materials

The Eliminating Disparities in Infant Mortality Task Force meeting materials are organized by meeting date below. Materials include agendas, resources, and meeting minutes.

• March 16, 2021 (Agenda, Slide Deck)
• May 18, 2021 (Agenda, Slide Deck)
  • Infant Mortality Task Force Social Determinants of Health County Profiles
  • Infant Mortality Task Force Social Determinants of Health County Profiles Summary
• June 15, 2021 (Agenda, Slide Deck)
• July 19, 2021 (Agenda, Slide Deck, Recording)
  • Resources:
    • Ohio Department of Education and Workforce:
      • Each Child, Our Future — Ohio's Strategic Plan for Education
      • Task Force on Best Academic Practice Models for Black Students
      • Equity in Special Education: Disproportionality
      • Each Child Means Each Child — Ohio's Plan to Improve Learning Experiences and Outcomes for Students with Disabilities
      • Equity in Education — This resource was part of the meeting record but has since expired.
    • Ohio Department of Job and Family Services:
      • How Racism in the Ohio Child Services System Impacts the Lives of Individuals Involved
    • Ohio Department of Medicaid:
      • Report on Pregnant Women, Infants and Children — SFY 2020
      • SB 332 Semi-Annual Report 1
      • SB 332 Combined Semi-Annual Reports 2 & 3
• July 27, 2021 (Agenda, Slide Deck, Draft Recommendations)
• August 17, 2021 (Agenda, Slide Deck)
• September 19, 2021 (Agenda, Slide Deck, Draft Recommendations)

Share Your Story or Make a Recommendation

Improving the well-being of Ohio’s Black communities requires a collective effort—sharing ideas, inspiring change, and connecting people, stories, and data. Whether you are a parent, a community member, or an organization providing services to pregnant and parenting families, we want to hear from you. Your experiences and insights are crucial in helping to make Ohio a better place for all babies and families. Share your story or tell us what actions are needed to finally eliminate racial disparities in birth outcomes.

Please note that feedback provided may be subject to a public records request.

Help us center the experiences of Ohio’s Black families by submitting your story or making a recommendation using the form below: