“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” – Dr. Maya Angelou
Did you know that for more than 50 years, Cuyahoga County has had one of the highest rates of infant deaths in the United States? The numbers are even higher for African American babies!
To lower the number of babies dying before the age of one, Cuyahoga County leaders accepted the call to action and created First Year Cleveland (FYC). FYC is a County-wide Initiative that focuses on three priority areas, including (1) reducing racial disparities, (2) addressing extreme prematurity, and (3) eliminating sleep related deaths. FYC understands the importance of saving our babies and providing support to those who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss.
Pregnancy and infant loss include:
- Miscarriage
- Stillbirth
- The death of a baby before his or her first birthday (also called infant mortality)
In 2018, FYC identified two local leaders to engage and support African Americans who have experienced loss. The leaders joined forces to create the Pregnancy and Infant Loss (PAIL) Initiative. PAIL is driven by the voices of a forty member Committee which includes African Americans who have experienced loss, community leaders, government agencies, health care providers, mental health professionals, faith-based institutions, and non- profit organizations.
What We Offer
We are honored to provide hope to families who have experienced loss. Our arms are open to parents, siblings, extended family (i.e. grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.), communities, and clinicians by offering:
- Healing Support Groups
- Grief Information Guide
- Pregnancy and Infant Loss Society
- Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Events
- Education and Wellness Events
- Resources and Training for Clinicians
To learn more about First Year Cleveland, visit firstyearcleveland.org
