What We Do

Current Initiatives—Healthy Babies for Marathon County has four focus areas:

  • Increase initiation of first trimester prenatal care
  • Decrease substance use (nicotine, alcohol, and other drugs) during pregnancy
  • Increase the identification of perinatal mood disorders and link women to community services
  • Increase the percentage of homes that provide a safe sleeping environment for infants

The focus areas of Healthy Babies for Marathon County address local health goals identified through Healthy Marathon County and also address objectives from Healthy People 2020 (www.healthy people.gov).  Healthy People 2020 is a set of goals set forth to improve our nation’s health.  These goals include:

  • Increase the proportion of pregnant women who receive early and adequate prenatal care.
  • Increase the abstinence from alcohol, cigarettes, and illicit drugs among pregnant women.
  • Increase the proportion of infants who are put to sleep on their backs.
  • Reduce the occurrence of fetal alcohol syndrome.