Question 1

Fetal-Infant Mortality Review (FIMR)

Accepted Answer

FIMR is a community process that works to improve service systems and community resources for women, infants, and families in Baltimore City. The FIMR process helps us identify factors leading to poor birth outcomes and monitor the progress of our interventions to improve systems and services.
Every month, the FIMR Case Review Team reviews cases of fetal and infant deaths and the social, economic, and health factors that may have contributed to the deaths. The team identifies trends and issues and makes recommendations for change. These recommendations are reviewed by BHB’s Community Advisory Board, Steering Committee, and Core Implementation Team.  Neighborhood Action Teams in two areas with high infant mortality rates—Upton/Druid Heights and Patterson Park North & East—also work to implement FIMR recommendations within their communities.
The Baltimore City Health Department gathers information for the case reviews from public health, medical, and social services records. A public health nurse conducts interviews with mothers who have suffered losses, if the mother agrees, and then refers families to bereavement support and community resources.
FIMR meetings are completely confidential. BHB monitors the impact of interventions it implements and tracks changes in the number of deaths as well as changes to service systems and resources for women, infants, and families in Baltimore City.
 
FIMR Team
Advocates for Children and Youth * Annie E. Casey Foundation * Baltimore City Health Department * Baltimore Healthy Start * Baltimore Medical System * Behavioral Health System Baltimore * BHB Community Advisory Board * Faith-Based Leaders * Family League of Baltimore * HealthCare Access Maryland, Inc. * Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center * Johns Hopkins HealthCare * Johns Hopkins Hospital * March of Dimes * Medstar Harbor Hospital * Mercy Medical Center * Priority Partners * Roberta's House * University of Maryland Medical Center * University of Maryland School of Social Work * Women, Infants, & Children

Question 2

Child Fatality Review (CFR)

Accepted Answer

CFR brings together city agencies and key experts to review fatalities of Baltimore City children from birth to age 17 to help us learn how to prevent these tragedies from happening again. Every month, the CFR Team meets to review the information, identify trends and places where we could intervene, and makes recommendations for change. The Baltimore City Health Department gathers information for CFR from public health, law enforcement, medical, and social services records. CFR meetings are completely confidential. CFR Team members use some recommendations to make changes in their agencies’ policy and practice.
CFR Team
Annie E. Casey Foundation * Baltimore Child Abuse Center * Baltimore City Department of Social Services * Baltimore City Fire Department * Baltimore City Health Department * Baltimore City Public Schools * Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office * Baltimore Healthy Start * Baltimore Police Department * Behavioral Health System Baltimore * Family League of Baltimore * HealthCare Access Maryland * Johns Hopkins Hospital * Maryland Department of Juvenile Services * Mayor’s Office of Children & Family Success * Mayor’s Office on Criminal Justice * Roberta’s House * Safe Kids Baltimore * University of Maryland Medical Center

Infant Mortality Statistics and Research

Key Statistics: Where We are and Where We Want to Go

Infant Mortality Rate

2023

5 Year Goal

8.8

Maryland

5.7

2021

7.5

7.9

Where We Started

We still have work to do, but we are optimistic because our approach works. When BHB was launched in 2009, infant mortality was on an upward trend. Since our launch, infant mortality has been on a downward trend. Since 2009, the infant mortality rate in Baltimore City has declined by 35%.

Other Promising Results

We have also made a lot of progress is narrowing birth disparities. To learn more about why this is important, visit our section on our anti-racist approach.

Data Sources

Fetal-Infant Mortality Review (FIMR)

Child Fatality Review (CFR)

Full Reports