Recently, the Indiana Department of Health announced provisional data showing the state's infant mortality rate in 2025 remained at a historic low. It is the lowest rate of infant deaths since record keeping began in 1900. This showcases Indiana's commitment to ensuring Hoosier babies and their families can thrive and live happy, healthy and fruitful lives.
While the loss of any baby is tragic, it's encouraging to see efforts to reduce infant mortality are working.
IDOH notes the importance of prenatal care for expectant mothers to reduce infant deaths. Factors including substance use, smoking, maternal stress and lack of care increase the risk. The state has programs like Safety PIN (Protecting Indiana's Newborns) Grants that fund organizations working to reduce infant deaths as well as the Health First Indiana initiative to improve care and services for Hoosiers.
Pregnant women can visit in.gov/health/mch for maternal and child health resources or call the Moms Helpline at 1-844-624-MOMS (6667) for confidential support.
Additionally, Indiana's Safe Haven Law has given parents in crisis a secure and legal option to surrender an infant without fear of arrest or prosecution. It remains one of the most compassionate tools our state offers to protect the most vulnerable newborns and support families in crisis.
The Safe Haven Law was first passed in 2000 and has continued to evolve over the years. In 2017 and 2018 we expanded safe surrender options to include baby boxes at designated hospitals and fire stations with 24-7 emergency medical service staffing.
Additionally, the state allowed EMS stations to install these lifesaving devices in 2021. Last year we also extended the age at which an infant can be safely surrendered from 30 to 60 days, giving families more time and flexibility during difficult circumstances.
Indiana remains committed to making sure we stay at a historic low for infant mortality and House Republicans will continue passing legislation to make this number even lower.
