The Franklin County Health Department is getting more than half a million dollars from the state over the next three years to reduce infant mortality in the county.
The health department was notified that it will receive $631,914 in grant funds from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services – $210,638 each year, according to a press statement from public information officer James Hicks.
“We are thankful for the state of North Carolina making this significant investment toward reducing infant mortality in Franklin County,” said Franklin Health Director Scott Lavigne.
“We look forward to using these funds to implement evidence-based strategies designed to reduce this health inequity in Franklin County as it furthers our mission to prevent disease, provide care, promote health and protect our community.”
Funding is set to begin on June 1, 2023 and will continue for three years based on continued availability of funds and program performance.
For more information about his grant or the Health Department, contact Scott LaVigne at 919-496-8111 or slavigne@franklincountync.gov.
According to information from NCDHHS, Franklin County had eight infant deaths in 2020 per 1,000 live births, the most recent year for which data is available.
By comparison, Vance County reported five deaths per 1,000 live births, Granville and Warren counties each reported four. The two counties with the most infant deaths were Wake County with 69 and Cumberland County with 50.