Health

Michigan to go with federal health exchange, for now

By Jordan Medina • Nov 9, 2012

Tuesday night's election results not only offered President Barack Obama a second chance to get the economy moving, it also allowed his signature policy to stay in tact.

Even though the Affordable Care Act - aka Obamacare - was modeled after Romney's own health care law in Massachusetts, the former Republican challenger vowed to begin efforts to repeal the bill his first day on the job.

Study shows heavy prenatal drinking impacts a child's brain over course of life

By Jennifer Guerra • Nov 1, 2012

A new study shows that heavy drinking during pregnancy has long-term affects on a child's brain growth and development. But the study, supported by the National Institutes of Health, also notes that an infant's environment likely plays a role in the abnormal brain development as well. Those findings could lead to the development of early treatments and interventions to correct or improve patterns of abnormality. You can read the full study here: http://www.jneurosci.org/content/32/44/15243.full

Childhood obesity rates show signs of improvement

By Paulette Parker • Oct 26, 2012

Obesity rates among children have been on the rise for nearly 30 years. Today, almost a third of children are either overweight or obese. A change in the nutritional value of food served at schools seems to be reversing this trend, though. To learn about the impact this change has had on children across the country, read the article below.

What are we doing to treat kids with stress and trauma?

By Sarah Alvarez • Oct 16, 2012

Dustin's Dwyer's post on us all being defined in part by our brains when we were 4 years-old had me thinking, worrying actually, about people who were not stimulated as little kids. What about those kids that were not thriving in preschool, but were instead having a really rough time?

Personal stories of babies born too small, too early or gone too soon

By Sarah Alvarez & Cameron Stewart • Oct 10, 2012

For some, State of Opportunity's documentary on Michigan’s infant mortality crisis was an introduction to the issue.

But for others, infant loss has long been a topic of worry or grief.

Infant mortality [transcript + audio]

By Jennifer Guerra • Oct 9, 2012

JENNIFER GUERRA: I want to introduce you to a young mom, her name is Angela. She’s 21 years old. She lives with her son in a two bedroom, section eight apartment, just outside Detroit in Highland Park.

ANGELA: I have one kid and one on the way. Want me to say his name? His name is Darrion, he’s three years old.

JG: Darrion has a crazy amount of energy. He likes to bounce around his two-bedroom apartment like the springiest frog you’ve ever seen. He’s also a very big fan of toy cars. And soon, his mom tells me, Darrion is going to be a big brother.

Infant mortality, part 3: A public health crisis needs solutions

By Jennifer Guerra • Oct 9, 2012

In our final segment of State of Opportunity, Jennifer Guerra looks at what's being done today to help ensure that all children have an equal shot at celebrating their first birth - no matter where they live, what color their skin is, or how much money their parents have in the bank.

A Healthy Start approach, or how to get the black infant mortality rate down to zero

State of Opportunity reporter Jennifer Guerra tagged along with Jenny Hall on a home visit to see a client of hers who lives near Flint.

Infant mortality, part 2: The most disturbing disparity

By Jennifer Guerra • Oct 9, 2012

In part two of our State of Opportunity documentary on infant mortality and disparities, we ask the question: Why are black babies two and a half times more likely to die before they turn one than white babies?

Two of the leading causes of infant mortality are babies that are born too soon or too small, and a disproportionate amount of those babies are African American.

Growing up in a toxic soup

Infant mortality, part 1: A personal tragedy, and a plan for the future

By Jennifer Guerra • Oct 9, 2012

Behind the statistics: A personal tragedy

We talked previously about Chantania Smith and her struggle with losing a child.

Six months into her pregnancy, Smith’s doctors discovered she had a short cervix, which is a major cause of preterm birth and a leading indicator for infant mortality.

When she went into labor a month and a half later, the umbilical cord prolapsed and came out first, and Smith was rushed to the hospital for an emergency C-section.

On January 14, 2010, she gave birth to a little baby boy named Jerome – JJ for short.

Should low-income kids take drugs to do better in school?

By Sarah Alvarez • Oct 9, 2012

This story went around between those on the State of Opportunity team this morning. Honestly, we all had the same reaction and we all thought it seemed pretty crazy. But maybe we're wrong? Tell us what you think. Do you have a child who takes one of these medications? Or are you a doctor who works with kids? Share your story with us.

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