HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 5627-09-2022 A Resolution
NO. 5627-09-2022
SUPPORTING THE PUBLIC/PRIVATE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY
WORKING GROUP IN ITS EFFORTS TO ENHANCE MATERNAL,
INFANT, AND CHILD HEALTH OUTCOMES AND DIRECTING THE
CITY MANAGER TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL FUNDING IN
FURTHERANCE OF SUCH EFFORTS
WHEREAS, Fort Worth strives to ensure available resources and enhanced
opportunities are accessible by all of its residents, including its most vulnerable
populations; and
WHEREAS, infants and pregnant women are often among those most vulnerable
populations that would benefit from additional support; and
WHEREAS, September is Infant Mortality Awareness Month; and
WHEREAS, the infant mortality rate reflects the number of children dying before
reaching one year of age per 1,000 live births; and
WHEREAS, the infant mortality rate varies dramatically by zip code in Fort
Worth; and
WHEREAS, in Tarrant County alone, there are at least 6 infant deaths per 1,000
live births; and
WHEREAS, a variety of public and private sector providers currently offer
resources and assistance to improve maternal outcomes and aid pregnant women and
their children; and
WHEREAS, enhancing coordination among the providers working in this space
could better connect the right existing services with those who need them and could also
enhance efforts to raise public awareness of those resources and to advocate for their
expansion to encompass an infrastructure of community support and opportunities for
advancement; and
WHEREAS, on September 1, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker joined fourteen
other public and private sector community leaders representing healthcare, childcare and
education, and social services in issuing a statement that calls on the community to work
together to develop and facilitate a holistic approach to support maternal and inf ant
support services such as quality childcare and wraparound assistance, to work to provide
a safer childhood for the City's most vulnerable residents, to identify and advocate for
positive legislative changes such as addressing the childcare crisis and expanding
postpartum healthcare and support services; and
WHEREAS, recognizing that raising safe and healthy children is critical to the
quality of life and continued vitality of the City of Fort Worth and that having safe and
healthy parents is integral to the health and safety of those children, the City Council
whole-heartedly supports taking a more proactive approach to enhancing the aid and
broadening the opportunities available to infants, children, and expectant mothers.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS, THAT:
1. The City supports the public/private multi-disciplinary working group in their
efforts to enhance maternal and infant health outcomes, improve childcare and
educational resources, and expand opportunities and supportive community
infrastructure in order to further the efforts of providing every child in Fort Worth with a
safe and healthy childhood.
2. City Manager David Cooke is directed to explore and present to the City
Council options to provide funding in furtherance of these efforts, in particular by
leveraging American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) or other appropriate federal or state
funds.
Adopted this 251h day of September, 2022.
3, ror'�T
ATTEST: �'• '•G,c�
By: Jannette S.Goodall(Sep 30,202214:24 CDT)
Jannette S. Goodall, City Secretary '"•••• •"'c,
TEXP