What is the Child Watch Visitation Program?

INFANT MORTALITY• Genesee County ranks among the worst of Michigan's 83 counties for infantmortality. (Genesee Child Health Letter, April 1992).• 1987 data shows that Flint was among the 10 worst cities in the U.S. (population100,000 or more) for infant mortality with a rate of 17.6. Black infant mortality inFlint was 21 .3. Flint had low birth weight incidence at least 1.5 times higher thanthe U.S. incidence of 6.9. Flint's overall proportion of births to teens was at least1.5 times higher than the U.S. average. (Children's Defense Fund, 1991).• Teenage mothers have a 14.1 infant death rate, one-fourth higher than the 11.6for women over 20.• The infant mortality rate for black and other nonwhite teenage mothers is 34.1under 15 and 23.3 for those 15 to 19. (Special Report: Adolescents in GeneseeCounty. 1992).CHILDREN'S DEATHS• Of Flint's children under 1 year, 6 died in a variety of accidents between 1980 and1990. (PRIORITY '90s Technical Report, 1992).• Accidents was the leading cause of mortality between the ages of one and 19,accounting for 24 of the 71 who dies in 1990. (Special Report: Adolescents inGenesee County. 1992).• Motor vehicle accidents were responsible for 15 of the 24 deaths. Homicides wereclose behind with a record 23 deaths, ten more than the previous record 13recorded in 1988. This included 22 who were Flint residents. These two causeswere responsible for two:-thirds of all deaths from one to 19 years of age. (SpecialReport: Adolescents in Genesee County, 1992).• There were 3 children suicide deaths in the county from 1980 to 1990. Noneoccurred in Aint. The number in Michigan increased by 71 % (5) during this period.(PRIORITY '90s Technical Report. 1992).• More children under age 5 die of injuries from abusive parents than TB, whoopingcough, polio. measles, diabetes. rheumatic fever, and appendicitis combined.Eady Childhood Health Task Force Report, 1988.47