Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute

Getting Healthy Zone & Healthy Start

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UT HTSJI Logo

Toledo Lucas County Health Department Logo

Did you know that in Lucas County, the infant mortality rate is 3x higher for African American babies compared to white babies? The Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute is working to answer this question and close the gap on this social justice issue.

Getting Healthy Zone (GHZ) aims to improve infant vitality in seven urban Toledo census tracts. Built on the Best Babies Zone approach, GHZ mobilizes residents and organizational partners to address the social, structural and economic determinants of health and promote health equity.

The HTSJI partners with the Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio to evaluate the Getting Healthy Zone project. Dr. Celia Williamson serves as the primary investigator on the project. Monica Klonowski, M.A., serves as the research associate on the project. The Getting Healthy Zone project will be entering its fourth year beginning summer 2021.

Toledo Lucas County Healthy Start provides programming centered on reducing infant mortality in the African American population. Efforts include parent education, reproductive life planning, breastfeeding support, enrolling in health insurance, safe sleep education, smoking cessation, well baby care and vaccinations, community linkages, and assistance with social services.

The HTSJI partners with the Toledo Lucas County Health Department to evaluate Healthy Start. Dr. Celia Williamson serves as the primary investigator on the project. Monica Klonowksi, M.A., serves as the research associate on the project. The HTSJI has provided qualitative evaluation to Healthy Start for over five years.

For questions, please contact Monica Klonowski, Research Associate:
Phone: 419.530.5594
Email: monica.klonowksi@utoledo.edu

Last Updated: 6/27/22