NEW HOTLINE AVAILABLE FOR MOMS

There's a renewed effort in Indiana to prevent babies from dying before their first birthday. The state has one of the highest infant-mortality rates in the country, and has been near the top of that list for years. Now the Indiana State Department of Health has launched "MOMS Helpline," a hotline that new moms and pregnant women can call with questions or find help when they need it. Diana Feliciano is the Helpline manager, and says the goal is to keep children healthy.

“We try to connect all our callers within a network of prenatal and child healthcare services within their local communities, state agencies, and organizations throughout the state."

She says that means helping women find doctors, get transportation for prenatal or well baby checkups, and locate financial assistance for housing, or to buy cribs and car seats. The "MOMS Helpline" number is toll-free, 844-MCH-MOM (844-624-6667).

The hotline also offers information about how to sign up for a variety of critical support services – from the federal "WIC" and "SNAP" assistance and Medicaid, to Hoosier Healthwise, the Healthy Indiana Plan and more. Feliciano says Indiana's goal is to prevent tragedies from happening.

“We're here to encourage and help them access the early and regular prenatal care that they need, the education, and we can also advocate on behalf of mom's and pregnant women. We offer not only information, but referrals and resources to help them get connected with the providers that they need."

The National Center for Health Statistics says just under six out of every one-thousand babies died at birth or in their first year of life in the U-S in 2013, the most recent year statistics are available. That's triple the rate in Japan or Norway, and double the rates in Ireland, Israel or Italy.