It is with great admiration of all of the good work our Projects are doing nationwide, that I share with you our first “tool kit” for Infant MortalityAwareness Month.

Our heartfelt appreciation goes to the Annie E. Casey Foundation for underwriting this marketing campaign. We look forward to continuing our relationship as we work together to promote community-based maternal and child health programs.

Special thanks go to Congressman Michael C. Burgess, 26th District ofTexas. In 2005, Congressman Burgess introduced the Resolution 402 directing Congress to observe September as Infant MortalityAwareness Month. The goals of Infant Mortality Awareness Month are to increase national awareness of the contributing factors to infant mortality and urge community leaders to get involved in efforts to reduce the rate of infant mortality in this country by 2010. Collectively, we can make this happen!

In your tool kit you will find separate file folders with ideas for friendraising/fundraising activities, advocacy, useful statistics, promotional items, working with the media, public relations and marketing. It was our intent to provide a menu of tools that could be utilized depending onthe capabilities of any one of our Projects in the Healthy Start family. I encourage you to open the Promotional file folder first to review the suggested campaign slogans found on the posters and other items available. Then, continue to open each file folder to explore your options to help raise awareness and gain community support for your Project. Each file varies in size and has an “end of file” after the last document.The tool kit will be posted on our National website where the links referenced will become active.

Please be sure to send us your successes with photos. And, let us know of any additional ways we can support you. Again, our many thanks for your hard work in strengthening our families and communities.

Supported through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HealthResources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.