There are a lot of items on the agenda for the NC General Assembly this year.

But one of the most important may be one that won’t get much press: reducing the rate of child mortality.

Last month, the NC Child Fatality Task Force submitted its annual report to the governor and the NCGA, outlining recommendations for the coming year – ranging from funding for programs to prevent tobacco use during pregnancy to new legislation strengthening existing seat belt laws.

Kella Hatcher is the executive director of the NC Child Fatality Task Force. She spoke with WCHL’s Aaron Keck.

 

Hatcher says infant mortality is a high priority, because “deaths to infants make up two-thirds of all child deaths in North Carolina.” In addition to tobacco prevention programs for expectant mothers, the Task Force is also recommending a study on access to maternal and neonatal care and additional funding for a program to prevent sleep-related deaths.

Other priorities for 2017 include reducing the teen suicide rate (which has been especially high since a sudden increase in 2014), addressing the state’s current opioid epidemic, and measures to promote safety – which range from stronger seat belt laws to programs providing gun owners with free or discounted gun locks or lock boxes.

The NC Child Fatality Task Force was created in 1991. Since then, the rate of child mortality in North Carolina has decreased by 46 percent.

Read the Task Force’s annual report here.