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Grant awarded to mid-Michigan counties to help with infant and maternal patient care

Alexander Grey
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Unsplash

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has awarded $50,000 to two district health departments. The funding is to help them lower fetal-infant and maternal mortality rates in the region.

The Healthy Futures Program is not a new program for the state, but it is for counties like Alpena and Iosco.

That’s according to Scott Izzo, community health director and epidemiologist at District Health Department #2 – it covers Alcona, Iosco, Ogemaw, and Oscoda counties. He said the funding was needed after health departments turned away from local health issues towards dealing with the pandemic.

“Early childcare services kind of fell by the wayside," Izzo said. "It was harder for people to come in. It was harder for us to go out to people. And so we’re really excited to be getting back to what is very traditional public health work here in Michigan.”

He said the region was chosen not only because of mortality rates, but also its place on the new substance abuse index. High rates of abuse in the region can lead to birth defects and trouble providing care for newborns, he said.

"We’re hoping that as we push these services out in the community," Izzo said. "We’re also touching on those issues and those topics as well with the people we serve.

Izzo's health department is working with other communities in the region and District Health Department #4 in Alpena County to get the Healthy Futures program off the ground, he said.

Ben Jodway is an intern, serving as a reporter for WCMU Public Media and the Pioneer in Big Rapids. He has covered Indigenous communities and political extremism in Michigan.