Impact Area

Good Health

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Healthy development starts in the prenatal period and even before.

Policy Priorities

The Crisis in Maternal and Infant Health

A healthy pregnancy and birth are the foundation for the child’s future health and development making the well-being of women critical.

The State of Babies Yearbook: 2023 reveals significant disparities in the health outcomes of mothers and babies; Black and Native American women experience systemic racism, reflected in stark racial disparities in maternal health and birth outcomes that worsened during the pandemic. Urgent action is needed to directly address and eliminate barriers that limit access to culturally responsive, quality health care in historically marginalized communities and families with low income.
See the Report Here

Seizing the Opportunity to Promote Positive Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

Infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH) is fundamental to all early development and learning and encompasses concepts such as social and emotional development and early relational health.

Yearbook indicators illustrate this policy area’s urgency, showing that many infants and toddlers experience stressful circumstances that could undermine IECMH’s central influence on early development. The country needs to bring young children’s mental health squarely into overall mental health policy.
See the Report Here

Key Findings

per 1,000 live births, Black infant mortality is nearly twice the national rate.
0 deaths

Preterm Births and Low Birth Weight

Stark disparities persist in birth outcomes among Black and American Indian/Alaska Native babies.
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Caregivers with infants and toddlers continue to report increased emotional distress amid the pandemic, and a parallel increase in their children’s emotional distress.

The State of Babies

The state where a child is born and lives during their first three years makes a big difference in their chance for a strong start in life. See how your state stacks up—and where significant disparities exist in the opportunities available for babies.

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I paid out of my pocket to have a black doula so I could have the best chance of staying alive while giving birth.
Allison G., North Chesterfield, VA
At 12 weeks after the birth of my child, I was still suffering from anxiety and depression. Having to return to work in order to support my family was emotionally and mentally tough. As an educator, I felt that I did a disservice to my students by returning to the classroom and not having enough time to address my symptoms.
Zurii D., Las Vegas, NV
[COVID-19] created a lot of stress due to uncertainties about delivery. I felt so alone and isolated in the first few months and sad that my family couldn't enjoy my new baby.
RAPID-EC Respondent, NJ

State Policy Initiatives

Learn how states are improving outcomes for babies by searching ZERO TO THREE’s collection of articles highlighting innovative state policies and initiatives, searchable by issue area or state.

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Good Health

The Good Health domain examines indicators of affordability and access to health care, nutrition, maternal and child health, and Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health.

Download the Good Health Report
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Featured Resources

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