`NPT Reports: Children`s Health Crisis` Looks At Infant Mortality June 24

Infant mortality rates say more about us than simply how many babies will live to see their first birthday. They are an early indicator of what the future holds for the health of our communities.

Tennessee ranks 47th nationally in infant mortality rates, with more than 700 babies dying each year. Only 61% of babies born in Tennessee have received adequate prenatal care and nearly one in ten babies born in Davidson County are of low-birth weight. Single mothers, black mothers and urban residents suffer an even higher infant mortality rates.

In NPT Reports: Children’s Health Crisis: Infant Mortality, the second in our seven-part series, we focus on issues surrounding Tennessee’s infant mortality rates and birth outcomes, talking with policymakers, health professionals and parents. Hosted by actress, mother of two and Tennessee resident Kimberly Williams-Paisley (Father of the Bride, According to Jim, Amish Grace) and produced by Will Pedigo (Next Door Neighbors, Living On: Tennesseans Remembering the Holocaust), the documentary explores what Tennessee’s infant mortality rates mean for its communities, and what we can do to improve birth outcomes for all Tennesseans. It premieres Thursday, June 24 at 8:00 p.m. on NPT-Channel 8 and will be made available at wnpt.org/childrenshealth the following day.

For more info, visit the NPT Pressoom at wnpt.org/news and the Children’s Health Crisis website at wnpt.org/childrenshealth.

Be sure also to join us for a Tweet Chat on the program with producer Will Pedigo during the broadcast and for about a half hour after on Thursday, June 24 beginning at 8:00 p.m. Central. Join us on Twitter.com or Tweetchat.com with hashtag #childrenshealth.