For Immediate Release: March 28, 2019
Contact: Robert Guttersohn, rguttersohn@cccnewyork.org, 910-308-6270
Kamali Burke, kburke@fenton.com, 212-897-2070

NEW INFOGRAPHIC ILLUSTRATES THE URGENT NEED TO PROTECT STATE INVESTMENTS AIMED AT IMPROVING MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH OUTCOMES

Thursday, March 28, 2019 – NEW YORK, NY – Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York (CCC) today released a data infographic that illustrates the critical importance of New York State’s investments in child and maternal health and calls for immediate action in Albany’s budget negotiations to reject proposals that would jeopardize the health and well-being of vulnerable New Yorkers.

While New York City has experienced important progress in reducing the infant mortality rate citywide, disparities persist across racial/ethnic groups and communities. Compared to white infants, the infant mortality rate is three times higher for black infants, and one and a half times higher for Hispanic infants. Preterm births are as high as 13.5% in parts of NYC, and far too few women receive the quality care they need before, during, and after pregnancy. In addition, black women face a maternal mortality rate eight times that of white women in NYC and make up more than a third of life-threatening complications from pregnancy, despite representing only 21% of births.

The data make clear the importance of legislation to establish a statewide Maternal Mortality Review Board, which has passed the Senate and Assembly and is awaiting the Governor’s signature.

However, the data also make urgently apparent the need to strengthen New York City’s community health infrastructure — an infrastructure now threatened by the Governor’s proposal to cut State reimbursement to New York City for the General Public Health Work (GPHW) program by $59 million.

The proposed GPHW cut would dramatically harm a wide range of programs in New York City upon which mothers and young children rely: Nurse Family Partnership, Newborn Home Visiting, immunizations, lead inspections, Reproductive Health Clinics, Family Health, Communicable Disease Control, Chronic Disease Prevention, Community Health Assessment and more. These programs play a central role in supporting the health and well-being of mothers, children and families.

“The data underscores the need to make investments – not cuts – in programs that serve children and families in New York City,” said Jennifer March, Executive Director of CCC. “In the face of tough fiscal choices, these programs have a strong return on investment, helping protect against the need for more costly interventions and ensuring that our most vulnerable New Yorkers thrive. The proposed cut to the General Public Health Work (GPHW) program just doesn’t make sense and we urge State Legislators and the Governor to commit to a full restoration in the State’s Adopted Budget.”

About Citizen’s Committee for Children
Citizens’ Committee for Children (CCC) educates and mobilizes New Yorkers to make the city a better place for children. CCC’s advocacy combines public policy research and data analysis with citizen action. CCC casts light on the issues, educates the public, engages allies, and identifies and promotes practical solutions to ensure that every New York child is healthy, housed, educated and safe. For more information about CCC, visit www.cccnewyork.org.
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