Convening

Convening

Lasting change happens when the right people come together to share ideas, build relationships, and take action. That’s why convening is a key part of our work. In addition to investing in our community through grants and capacity building, we convene, bringing together leaders and organizations to tackle challenges and develop strategies that improve the health and wellness of our community.

Since our founding in 2017, we have convened a variety of groups to tackle a variety of issues. These gatherings provide a space for collaboration, problem-solving, and fresh thinking. No single organization has all the answers, but by working together, we can identify solutions that are stronger, more inclusive, and better suited to the needs of La Porte County and its residents.

We believe that real progress requires collective effort. Our role is to listen, facilitate meaningful conversations, and support the partnerships that drive change. Whether it’s addressing urgent community issues or planning for the future, we are committed to bringing people together in ways that lead to action and effectiveness.

Convening Success Story

One specific example that illustrates the power of convening is the Partners for Healthier Babies Council. Partners for Healthier Babies, or PHB, was established in 2019 in response to La Porte County’s high rates of infant death. The council is made up of more than 30 committed professionals working to improve health outcomes for infants and their moms.

Infant mortality is a complex issue influenced by many factors. Four key areas PHB is working to improve are access to early prenatal care, rates of pregnant mothers who smoke, preterm birth, and low birth weight.

• Early prenatal care is important to help prevent health problems for both the mother and baby and help identify risks and complications. In La Porte County, 61.7% of mothers receive early prenatal care, compared to 79.2% throughout the state of Indiana and 76.1% in the US.
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of pregnancy complications, preterm delivery, birth defects, and low birth weight in infants. La Porte County’s rate of pregnant mothers who smoke is 8.2% in La Porte County, 5.3% in Indiana counties, and 3.7% (2022) in the US.
• Preterm births, infants born before 37 weeks, may cause babies to be born with serious health problems and have higher risk of infections and developmental and breathing problems. La Porte County has a higher rate of preterm births — 16.0% — than the state of Indiana, 11.0%, and the US, 10.4%.
• Infants born with low birth weight, less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces, are more likely to have health problems and require specialized medical care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Smoking, drinking alcohol, and substance misuse during pregnancy can increase the risk of having an infant with low birth weight, as well as the pregnant person’s race, age, health, and being pregnant with multiples. La Porte County’s rate of babies with low birth rate is higher at 11.8% than both the rates of Indiana and the US, at 8.6% and 8.0%.

The PHB Council analyzes hospital data, maps services currently offered throughout our county, identifies service gaps, speaks to patients, and researches best practices to improve the health of women before, during, and beyond pregnancy and ensure our babies are born healthy and thrive.

​ Noteworthy PHB Accomplishments

• During Safe Sleep Month in October 2023, HFL and our PHB Partners celebrated zero infant deaths related to unsafe sleep practices in the year 2021.
• PHB launched Safe Sleep News Conference and Campaign with the purpose of making safe sleep practices the social norm in La Porte County.
• La Porte County became the 37th Indiana County to implement a Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) process, thanks to the spearheading done by the PHB Council.

View Healthy Babies resources found in La Porte County, IN here.​