Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the purpose of this project?
To (1) increase awareness about infant mortality and related risk factors and (2) reduce behavioral risk factors associated with poor birth outcomes in underserved communities. 

Why youth?
Project IMPACT engages youth to speak to other youth about infant mortality and risk factors through media messaging.  There are two benefits to engaging young people in this project.  First, by engaging young people as the messengers of health information, it is more likely that other young people will listen.  Simply put, young people listen to young people.  Secondly, by engaging young people as recipients of the message, we can impact health behaviors as young people are just starting to make choices that can impact the rest of their lives.

What’s the timeframe for this project?
Students participated in the project from January of 2008 through May of 2008.  A “Premier” was held on July 25th in Nashville to highlight the work of the students. 

How many students were selected?
In each county, a core group of 8-10 high school students were selected to participate in the project from January through May.  In March, 8-10 additional high school students in each county joined the project during a one-week Spring Break.

How were students selected?
Each partner agency recruited and selected its core students and spring break students.  In an effort to reach students who are most likely to be impacted by the factors which lead to infant mortality, partner agencies recruited students from high schools in medically high risk communities.  Partner agencies worked with high school principals, teachers, and guidance counselors to recruit students.  Some students were recruited from existing  partner agency programs.

What and how did the students learn about infant mortality?
Students learned that the term infant mortality refers to the number of babies who die before their first birthday.  Students also learned the leading causes of infant mortality, e.g. complications from prematurity and low birth weight, congenital defects and sudden infant death syndrome.  Students also learned about risk factors that often lead to infant mortality. 

Students learned this information through their handbooks -- a youth-centered curriculum developed for specifically for this project, through guest speakers from public health departments and other community health agencies, through field trips, including a trip to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta during Spring Break, through classroom discussions with their Youth Specialists (team leaders) and through guided web-based research.

What did the students do with what they learned?

1. Shared the knowledge – the Core students shared their knowledge with the incoming Spring Break students.  Many students volunteered for community service events such as March for Babies, the annual Walk and fundraiser hosted by the March of Dimes.
2. Shared ideas – students from all three counties met in Chattanooga during Spring Break.  During this meeting, students shared information about infant mortality and developed and shared ideas about what type of messages would effectively reach other youth.
3. Advocated for babies – On April 30th, students convened in Davidson for a Day on the Hill.  The students spoke with legislators from their counties about infant mortality and what was happening in their communities to help and hinder efforts to reduce infant mortality.  The students also met and spoke with other health policy makers about infant mortality.
4. Created media messages – In each county, students brainstormed and then planned and created public service announcements about infant mortality for television, radio and print.  Students received assistance from Youth Specialists and technical and creative consultants.

What’s next?
The public service announcements will be run in Davidson, Hamilton and Shelby counties.  The Project will continue in each county, beginning in October.  During this second phase of the project, each county’s group of students will work on a special infant mortality project, using the public service announcements as a springboard.  For example, Shelby County students will make presentations throughout the community to continue raising awareness about infant mortality.  Davidson County students will create a discussion guide for their PSAs that will be available to schools, faith-based organizations and other community organizations.  Hamilton County students will conduct a series of town hall meetings and also work to create an Youth Infant Mortality Task Force made up of high school students throughout Hamilton County.