Here & Now: Maternal Infant Health

Many women in Dallas County without resources or strong family support struggled to get prenatal care and care for their newborns. So a group called the Dallas Foundation is trying to make a difference by investing in groups working in communities that need the most help. It's this week's Here and Now conversation with Fox 4's Sean Rapp. And this week in the here and now conversation, we're talking about maternal and infant health and combating infant mortality in Dallas County. And joining us, Vicki Allen from the Dallas Foundation to talk about the philanthropic efforts they are doing to try and make a difference. Thank you for being with us. First. Infant mortality in Dallas County? Yes, Sean. We at the Dallas Foundation are committed. To addressing this issue, because between 2013 and 2023, infant mortality rose 6%. Six percent. What's most important about that statistic is most of these deaths could have been prevented. Tell us, are these cases, many of them, some of them, where there's no prenatal care? So prenatal care and post postpartum care is so essential to the health of both mom and baby. Maybe that it. Prepares both of them to ensure that they have a healthy start from the beginning of life. And what's most important is that at the Dallas Foundation, we identified two organizations that were instrumental in helping address this issue. And we coupled that by investing $2 million in them, one of which is Parkland Health Foundation, and the other is the Child Poverty Action Lab. Okay, and before we talk about... How the donation will help those two organizations help mothers and children. Tell us about the Dallas Foundation, who you are, what you do. So the Dallas Foundation, our mission is to connect people. Ideas and investment to ensure that children and families reach their highest potential. And we do that by investing in both community organizations and partners to achieve that goal. But at the heart of it is our fund holders who really fuel the resources to make this all possible. So with the donation to these two healthcare groups, how is that going to spill into the community to help mothers and children, pregnant women who need this? What we believe is so instrumental is that community foundations have the ability to support organizations like this because they're really connected to families on the ground. They have the ability to bring a lens to the issues. As well as the challenges that they face, along with community centric solutions. So who qualifies? How do they gain access? How do they find help? So one of the things that we do is we really empower our grantees to determine who they're gonna serve. It's oftentimes zip codes that have been historically underinvested. And they work really closely with their teams to execute on the goals to improve the statistics that I shared earlier. We really believe that they're the best to do it. And so we feel confident that with our investment in there. Power to make a difference on the community level, that is a match that really creates great outcomes for Dallas. And Dallas is a vibrant city because of that. Vicki Allen is the chief impact officer for the Dallas Foundation. Thank you for what you are doing to undergird, if you will, those groups that are already in. neighborhoods in zip codes where there's high illness, high infant mortality, where there's high unemployment, where women need help. And then what you are doing is fueling the work that they might get that help to those pregnant moms. Thank you so much for what you're doing. You are so welcome. We appreciate the opportunity to share. And thank you both. The Dallas Foundation is the first community foundation in the state. It was established in 1929. Its formula for success, matching donors called fund holders with individuals and groups at the grassroots level, making a direct impact on those who need help the most.