On Saturday, September 12th, Syracuse Healthy Start will host the 5th Annual Syracuse Stroll. This event is held in recognition of Infant Mortality Awareness Month and the important role that both parents and the community have in promoting healthy births. The Syracuse Stroll is a community festival and fitness walk that will be held at Kirk Park, 1101 South Avenue, in the City of Syracuse. This free family event will begin at 10:30 a.m., and will provide an opportunity for families to come together for exercise, fun activities, to receive valuable health information, and to enjoy a fun day in the park! The lead sponsors for the 5th Annual Syracuse Stroll is the Office of Minority Health and Wegmans. Additional sponsors are Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Iota Nu Omega Chapter, and 100 Black Men.

While the infant mortality rate is declining overall across the nation and in New York State, rates still remain high in Syracuse, particularly among minority families. In 2012-2014, the infant mortality rate in the City of Syracuse was over two times higher for African American infants (12.4 deaths per 1,000 live births) than for white infants (5.8 deaths per 1,000 live births). “It is important that women receive early prenatal care, education, and social supports to help make good choices that contribute to a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Please help us celebrate every baby’s first birthday,” said Indu Gupta, MD, MPH, Onondaga County Health Commissioner.

Syracuse Healthy Start is a federally funded program of the Onondaga County Health Department’s (OCHD’s) Healthy Families Division. This program strives to reduce infant mortality locally by promoting healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. This is accomplished through community partnerships, health education, and case management services. Syracuse Healthy Start has a Community Action Network that brings together health care providers, human service workers, and local families to discuss and advise.  Community Action Network membership is open to all Syracuse families, health and human service providers, community members, civic leaders, businesses, community agencies, and faith-based organizations. REACH CNY, Inc. is the Perinatal Network serving Cayuga, Madison, Onondaga, and Oswego Counties and is a community partner of the OCHD’s Healthy Families Division, which coordinates the Syracuse Healthy Start Community Action Network.  To register for the Syracuse Stroll, please visit http://www.reachcny.org.