Baltimore Healthy Baby Campaign Gets $1M Grant

BALTIMORE (AP) -- A program that aims to reduce Baltimore's infant mortality rate has received a $1 million grant that will extend it through 2013.

The grant was awarded to the B'more for Healthy Babies campaign by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. It builds on a $3 million grant that CareFirst gave the program when it launched in 2009.

The program seeks to prevent infant deaths through policy changes, education and community outreach and mobilization.

The new funding will be used primarily in the communities of Upton Druid Heights and Patterson Park North & East, which have had high rates of infant mortality. It will also be used to support expanded service provider outreach, as well as a citywide communication campaign.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)