Fetal and Infant Mortality Reduction Initiatives
Tennessee’s Fetal and Infant Mortality Reduction Program works to prevent fetal and infant deaths through community-led review processes, data-driven strategies, and statewide initiatives that promote safe and healthy outcomes for all families.Program Overview
The death of a child before their first birthday is a profound loss for families and communities. In Tennessee, this tragedy occurs far too often. In 2022, 541 infants died before turning one in Tennessee, a rate of 6.6 infant deaths for every 1,000 live births. This is higher than the U.S. rate of 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births. This translates to one infant death every 17 hours, placing Tennessee 16th in the nation for highest rate of infant mortality. In Tennessee and across the United States, non-Hispanic Black infants are at roughly twice the risk of infant mortality than White infants. This has been true for over a century, despite overall reductions in infant mortality of nearly 95% since 1915.
More than 22,000 infants died in the United States in 2022. Leading causes included birth defects, preterm birth and low birthweight, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) accidents (unintentional injuries), and maternal complications of pregnancy. Tennessee faces similar challenges, with sudden infant death syndrome being replaced by bacterial sepsis of newborns as a leading cause.
In 2024, infant mortality reduction partners came together to update the Tennessee Infant Health Strategic Plan (2024-2028). At the heart of this strategic plan is our commitment to advancing evidence-based strategies and community-driven approaches that build capacity to improve infant health outcomes and meet the needs of families across Tennessee.
Program Contact Information
Address
Tennessee Department of Health
Division of Family Health & Wellness
Fetal and Infant Mortality Program
Andrew Johnson Tower, 7th Floor
710 James Robertson Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37243
Email the FIMR Program: FIMR.Health@tn.gov
Key Steps in the Process
- A team is notified of a fetal or infant death through either hospital notification or vital records.
- Information about the infant death is gathered. Sources include public health and medical records.
- An interview with the mother who has suffered the loss is conducted, if the mother agrees. Professionals with training in grief counseling assess the needs of the family and refer to bereavement support and community resources.
- The Case Review Team composed of health, social service and other experts from the community review this summary of case information and the interview, identify issues and make recommendations for community change, if appropriate.
- The Community Action Team, a diverse group of community leaders, review Case Review Team recommendations, prioritize identified issues, then design and implement interventions to improve service systems and resources.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality of all information is strictly maintained. That means that names of the mother, provider and institution are removed.
Working at the Local Level to Improve Birth Outcomes
Fetal and Infant Mortality Review is an action-oriented, evidence-based community process that reviews fetal and infant deaths and works at the local level to develop programs and influence policies that improve birth outcomes. The goal is to assess, monitor, and strengthen service systems and community resources for women, infants, and families.
Current Projects in Tennessee
The links below are to third-party websites. The Tennessee Department of Health is not responsible for their content, accessibility, or privacy practices.
This Page Last Updated: February 9, 2026 at 11:59 AM