CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio is expanding its support for babies and expectant parents through $20 million in grants for community-based services, as the state reports its lowest infant mortality rate in two decades.

Gov. Mike DeWine, along with Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel and Department of Children and Youth Director Kara Wente, announced grants will be distributed over the biennium to 21 nonprofit organizations through the Ohio Parenting and Pregnancy Program.

The Ohio Department of Children and Youth put the state’s infant mortality rate at 6.5 per 1,000 live births for 2024, the first statistically significant drop since DeWine took office. Ohio’s infant mortality rate has hovered around 7 per 1,000 live births since 2017.

“That’s a sign that our investments in supporting families—before, d

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