High infant mortality rates and obesity are two areas the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department is targeting in the next three years. They are not new, as they have been named priorities since at least 2013.
The health department named five key elements of its strategic plan after identifying trends within the county.
1. Chronic disease prevention, including obesity and diabetes
2. Complete family wellbeing, including infant and maternal health
3. Healthy homes and spaces, including lead poisoning prevention, air quality, and safe housing
4. Nutrition, including reducing food insecurity
5. Infrastructure improvement, including assessment of any new facility locations
“During each strategic planning process, we look at community health rankings and some polling of staff and community partners on where we really do need to put that extra special focus,” said Brandon Palinski, director of innovation, quality and informatics for the health department.
The previous strategic plan named eight priorities, but the 2025-2027 plan was narrowed to five.
Among them is family well-being. Mental health has been folded into a number of the elements, so no intentions are disappearing.
Battling trends
“Infant mortality in Ohio is ranked 44 out of 50 states, and Lucas County is among the highest in the state,” Mr. Palinski said. “We are definitely high up there.”
Such programs as Safe Sleep Education, initiated in 2024, and Healthy Start, a free home visiting program for families of children younger than age 18 months, are already in place. Help Me Grow programs also are available to educate parents on the development of their children. A Breastfeeding Support Office offers weekly classes.
“We have an epidemiologist who is tracking those trends making sure that infants that are born are making it to their first birthday,” Mr. Palinski said.
The state of Ohio also has recognized the infant mortality crisis and has passed legislation called the Strong Foundations Act to support programs, including creating a pathway for Medicaid funding of doula services.
“The lack of investment in our state’s young children and child care leaves Ohio’s young children behind and jeopardizes our future workforce,” said Julie Stone, executive director of the Ohio Head Start Association, who expressed optimism whenever increased attention is being given to young children.
The numbers go beyond Ohio, with the United States having one of the highest rates of infant mortality compared to other high-income countries, according to Lauren Maziarz, an associate professor of public health at Bowling Green State University.
“Infant mortality is incredibly complex and determined by a multitude of factors, including access to care, socioeconomic status, overall health of the mother, and support after birth, to name a few,” she said. “It will likely take years of systematic interventions to make significant gains, but that depends on continued funding and attention at the local, state, and national level.”
Sociologist Patricia Case, director of the University of Toledo’s First in the Family Center, which aims to help students who are the first in their family to attend college, underscored the need to address prenatal care.
“The health department setting this goal and having the programs is essential,” she said. “From a sociological perspective, there are a lot of factors that need to be examined primarily around access. Making this a priority is good and the developed programs are good, but access goes beyond availability.”
Ms. Case noted that transportation may be lacking or there may be an inability to leave work. She suggested there could also be some barriers that have yet to be identified.
An obstinate condition
Ohio’s high obesity ranking, along with diabetes and hypertension, is a focus of another of the county’s strategic priorities, chronic disease prevention.
Mr. Palinski said it is not a shock to anyone that obesity is a problem throughout the United States.
“The quality of life can be impacted by chronic diseases,” Mr. Palinski said, adding that the health department would like to build on efforts to increase nutrition, access to healthier foods, and physical activity, such as the Safe Routes to School program.
In 2023, 43 percent of Lucas County adults were obese, according to the 2022/2023 Lucas County Community Health Assessment. In 2020, that rate was 38 percent.
It is assessments and research at the local and state levels that help to form the health department’s strategic plan.
Another potential community resource is the Economic Research Center at the Buckeye Institute, which concluded that 32,000 Ohioans are kept from working because of obesity. In its 2023 study, the state loses $20 million in state and local tax revenues each year because of these labor losses.
Firm focus
Access to healthy and affordable food also is to be prioritized during the next two years. A healthy homes and spaces focus will be expanded to address lead poisoning prevention, air quality, and housing safety.
Finally, the health department will continue to evaluate its physical facilities, including securing a new location for its primary facility and modernizing existing buildings.
“The Board of Health Facilities Subcommittee and our health commissioners have been assessing potential locations and costs of a new main campus for the health department, but discussions with Toledo City and county commissioners are still in process,” Mr. Palinski said. “There are currently no plans to move our satellite facilities.”
The county’s strategic planning committee will meet quarterly to track progress of its goals and review any barriers to progress.
First Published February 10, 2025, 2:57 p.m.
