Delaware Healthy Mother & Infant Consortium Celebrates 20th Anniversary During Annual Summit

On April 13, the Delaware Healthy Mother & Infant Consortium (DHMIC) celebrated two decades of improving maternal and infant health during its annual summit. The theme - "Learning from the past. Leading in the present. Shaping maternal and child health for the future" - highlighted past achievements while focusing on innovative strategies to drive continued progress.

More than 370 maternal and infant health advocates attended the full-day event, which included presentations by industry experts, question and answer sessions to engage attendees, networking opportunities, panel discussions, and group breakout sessions. Engagement activities throughout the Chase Center ballroom showcased key initiatives and accomplishments that have shaped maternal and child health in Delaware.

"Reaching our 20 year milestone is both a celebration and a call to action," said DHMIC Chair Dr. Priscilla Mpasi. "Our progress proves what is possible when communities, health systems, and policymakers work together. As we look ahead, we remain deeply committed to ensuring every Delaware family has access to the care, support, and equitable opportunities they deserve."

Multi-Emmy Award-winning and NAACP Image Award-winning director Emmai Alaquiva, served as the keynote speaker for the event. Alaquiva spoke about his award-winning film The Ebony Canal, showed clips from the film, and talked about the importance of getting out the stories of women who experience disparities in maternal health and infant outcomes, particularly in Black and Brown communities.

"The key takeaway today, for me, is bringing all of our partners together so we can learn from each other," said Leah Jones, Division of Public Health (DPH) Section Chief of Family Health Systems. "While we celebrate the 20 years, we know there is still more work to be done. But when funding and data align, and we implement evidence-based strategies that we know will work, we can evaluate the progress and show a return on investment that will benefit not just mothers and their babies, but will allow all families to thrive."

Since 2004, Delaware's infant mortality rate dropped from the sixth highest among the states to the 22nd. According to the Division of Public Health, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (2012-2020), Delaware experienced a 36.2% drop in infant mortality and a 17% increase in pregnancy intention. Delaware reached a record-low infant mortality rate of 5.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2017-2021.

20-Year Recap:
• 2005 - Delaware's infant mortality rate (IMR), as reported by DPH, was the sixth highest in the nation, with significant disparities across race and ethnicity. There were 9.3 infant deaths per 1,000 live births (representing a five-year average from 2000 to 2004).¹
• 2006 - The IMTF produced several recommendations, including formally establishing DHMIC in Delaware law as a statewide, collaborative body focused on improving maternal and infant health outcomes and reducing disparities.
• 2008 - Statewide prevention and education efforts expanded. DHMIC established committees, began a safe-sleep campaign (Long Live Dreams) based on the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, scaled up preconception health initiatives, and increased public awareness efforts that addressed prematurity and infant mortality risk factors.
• 2009 - Infant mortality rates began to decline.
• 2010 - As a result of the Affordable Care Act, the Maternal Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program launched voluntary evidence-based Home Visiting Programs to serve families across the state.
• 2011 - Birthing hospitals began participating in coordinated maternal and infant quality-improvement initiatives, and statewide collaboration was established between hospitals, public health agencies, and maternal health experts.
• 2013 - Programs expanded access to maternal health services, specifically for underserved communities. Statewide education on safe sleep, reproductive life planning, and the health benefits of breastfeeding for both moms and babies continued.
• 2015 - Community-based strategies were implemented, including the Medical-Legal Partnership Program between DPH and the Community Legal Aid Society Inc. to develop a medical-legal partnership focused on supporting high-risk pregnant women in the Healthy Women, Healthy Babies program.
• 2017 - DHMIC strengthened preconception and postpartum interventions as well as maternal health education initiatives, while focusing on reducing racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities in maternal and infant outcomes.
• 2019 - The Delaware Perinatal Quality Collaborative (DPQC) was formally codified in Delaware law, providing a framework to support sustained statewide quality-improvement efforts in perinatal care.
• 2020 - Delaware's infant mortality rate declined to 6.5 deaths per 1,000 live births for the 2016-2020 period. This was a significant milestone compared to the state's five-year average at the time the DHMIC was established, and it reflected sustained progress in maternal and child health efforts.
• 2022 - The Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Program launched, providing pregnant women in the first and second trimester of their pregnancy with a guaranteed income of $1,000 each month for two years.
• 2022 - The Momnibus Legislation passed in the Delaware General Assembly, representing a comprehensive legislative effort to address racial disparities and improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
• 2024 - The Delaware Home Visiting Program served 655 Delaware families and 634 children through 7,181 visits. This voluntary, evidence-based program promotes maternal and child health, strengthens parenting, and improves long-term family outcomes.
• 2026 - Delaware advanced statewide efforts to strengthen perinatal mental health access, screening, and support through House Concurrent Resolution 82 (HCR 82).

The DHMIC annually recognizes an individual and an organization that goes the extra mile to improve health and well-being throughout Delaware. The 2026 Kitty Esterly, MD Health Equity Champion Awards were presented to:
• Cassandra Codes-Benjamin, MPA, Director, School Support Services, Delaware Department of Education - A transformative leader whose more than twenty-year career has strengthened maternal and child health, Ms. Codes-Benjamin has advanced health equity, and shaped policy and systems at the state and national level. Her impact is deeply embedded across Delaware's maternal, child, and family health landscape.
• Children & Families First Delaware - one of Delaware's longest standing and most trusted non-profit leaders in providing the supports and services children and their families need to thrive.

Through partnerships and innovative initiatives, DHMIC will continue its mission to prevent infant and maternal mortality and improve the health of women of childbearing age and infants in Delaware. For more information visit DEThrives.com/DHMIC.