South Dayton News

State Representative Andrea White has announced that her legislation targeting Ohio's high infant and maternal mortality rates has been signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine. Named the Strong Foundations Act, the new law aims to improve health, learning, and development outcomes for mothers and infants during the critical first 1,000 days of life.

House Bill 7 seeks to bolster existing evidence-based strategies and introduce new approaches and technologies to support these early stages of life. The bill emphasizes community relationships to combat the issue, particularly in a state where more than one in 150 infants do not survive their first year. "This bill is not what we had hoped to pass this GA, but it is something," Representative White stated. "And if it gets us to the next right step and most importantly saves and changes lives in the process, we are at least moving forward."

Ohio faces significant challenges, ranking 44th in infant mortality and 31st in infant maltreatment. Both rural and urban counties are affected, with one in five infants and toddlers living in poverty and 2,000 currently in foster care. "I am grateful that we were able to receive consideration of the needs of our most vulnerable citizens and their families from the House and Senate in order to pass H.B. 7," White said. "Now more than ever, Ohio mothers and young children need us to come alongside them."

The bill is designed to generate a strong return on investment by saving lives and reducing costs, allowing more funds to be invested in effective solutions. "The strategies in this bill are proven to generate a strong return on investment – both already here in Ohio and around the nation – both in terms of saving lives, improving the long-term trajectory of our tiniest citizens and their families…and in saving costs so we have more resources to invest in solutions that work for Ohio families," White explained.

Key aspects of the legislation include a mandate for the Ohio Department of Health to report on the ongoing modernization of WIC and expand access to evidence-based programs such as Help Me Grow, Nurse Family Partnership, Healthy Families America, and Parents as Teachers. These will target rural, Appalachian, and other underserved areas.

State Representatives Andrea White and Latyna Humphrey co-sponsored the bill. Following its approval in both legislative chambers, the bill has been signed into law and will be enacted soon.