COMMUNTY HEALTH ACTION PLAN
STEP 2: ADDRESS DATA DRIVEN PRIORITIES
Prematurity
In the United States, about 1 in 10 babies is born prematurely each year; prematurity is the
second leading cause of infant mortality at a rate of 107 per 100,000 births. In Colorado,
that translates to 128 babies born preterm each week (March of Dimes, 2013). Children’s
Hospital Colorado is well positioned to play a lead role in addressing prematurity by
expanding partnerships with pre-natal providers in order to reduce premature births and
to improve young child and family outcomes through innovative programming, internal
quality improvement and partnerships that recognize the importance of the First 1,000
Days (gestation through age two). The Children’s Hospital Colorado population in this age
group is 40,000 individual children participating in over 117,000 visits to Children’s Colorado
providers. Children’s Colorado is a partner in the Colorado Institute for Maternal Fetal Health
and collaborates with organizations like the March of Dimes to increase public awareness of
prematurity, support research to understand the underlying causes, and provide long-term
care for children who suffer complications from premature birth.
Goal 1: Increase public awareness about the importance of prenatal care and early
childhood development
Goal 2: Advocate for local and state policy changes that would positively influence
conditions in pregnancy and early childhood
Goal 3: Increase healthcare provider awareness and understanding of the importance
of gestation through age 2
Goal 4: Identify families with psychosocial concerns and provide supports and services
to address needs
Goal 5: Expand partnerships with pre-natal providers in order to reduce premature births
Colorado
vs
National
Prematurity
38
8%
Premature
birth rate
10%
15%
African American
women
13%