South Bend Tribune

The success of the nonprofit foundation Indiana launched to fund programs to address the state’s health problems is not a given.

According to a state Department of Health official, there’s no model for the Healthy Hoosiers Foundation, established through legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2013 and signed into law by Gov. Mike Pence. And much will obviously depend on how well the fundraising goes.

But given the numerous challenges facing Hoosiers — from infant mortality to obesity — it’s encouraging to see the state is not limiting its options.

It certainly can’t afford to do so, with Indiana routinely landing near the bottom in state rankings for health-related issues. That’s most shamefully true regarding infant mortality, the number of children who die before their first birthdays — often called the most important index of the health and well-being of a community and society.

Indiana’s infant mortality rate in 2012 was 6.69 per 1,000 live births; the national rate is 5.98.

Money raised by the Healthy Hoosiers Foundation will support the Baby & Me Tobacco Free program, which helps pregnant women quit smoking. Smoking during pregnancy is one of the main causes of low birth weight in newborns, which is a leading indicator of infant mortality.

More than 16 percent of pregnant Hoosier women smoke — the national average is 9.1.

Other programs the Healthy Hoosiers Foundation will focus on include those that increase childhood immunizations and reduce obesity.

Dr. Jerome Adams, the state health commissioner, said that the foundation will provide “an avenue to increase initiatives that promote the health and well-being of Hoosiers.”

Improving health outcomes in this state won’t come easily, and it will take more than any one program can accomplish. But there’s reason to hope that this latest effort will help lay a foundation for better Hoosier health.

This was distributed by Hoosier State Press Association. Send comments to [email protected].