Children & Families with Special Needs
Fetal Infant Mortality Review Program
Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) is an evidence-based process of identification and analysis of factors that contribute to fetal and infant death through chart review and interview of individual cases. FIMR complements other studies of infant death but uses an approach that is community-based, action-oriented, and designed to bring together local health providers, consumers, advocates and leaders.
FIMR Report 2022
FIMR identifies strengths and areas for improvements in overall service systems and community resources for women, children and families. FIMR also provides direction towards the development of new policies to safeguard them.
Fetal Infant Mortality Review has two overarching goals:
- Describe significant social, economic, cultural, safety, health and systems factors that contribute to mortality; and
- Design and implement community-based action plans founded on the information obtained from the reviews.
FIMR uses a two-tiered system that engages a multi-discipline case review team and a community action team to implement a continuous quality improvement process. The case review team reviews the case summaries from de-identified infant and fetal deaths. Based on these reviews, the team makes recommendations for system change. The community action team, which may have representation from government, health professionals, local public health, and other community leaders acts to implement the recommendations.
The FIMR process is not about assigning blame, but a process which helps to identify system gaps.
Case Review Team
Kent County's Case Review Team has representation from all major healthcare systems in the county including Corewell Health, University of Michigan Health West, Trinity Health, Cherry Health, MDHHS, and other local first responding agencies.
Figure 1 FIMR Process: Continuous Quality Improvement
Community Action Team
Kent County's Community Action Team is called the Infant Health Action Team. The team is made up of local stakeholders, public health, and community advocates for change.
Figure 2 FIMR Sequence for Case Review and Community Action
Bereavement Resources
Local Counseling Options
- network180
616-336-3909
Accepts Medicaid or no insurance - Arbor Circle
616-456-6571
Accepts most Medicaid and Sliding Scale Fee - Cherry Health
616-965-8200
Accepts Private or Medicaid Insurance and Sliding Scale Fee - Pine Rest
616-455-9200 - Alliance Counseling Group
616-222-0631
Accepts most Private Insurance - Thornapple Counseling
616-208-4740
Accepts most Private Insurance - Counseling Centers of West Michigan
616-805-3660
Accepts most Private and Medicaid Insurance - Mindful Counseling GR
616-425-2412
Accepts most Private Insurance or Sliding Scale Fee - Family Outreach Center
616-247-3815
Accepts most Private and Medicaid Insurance
Local Support Groups
- Starlight Ministries
616-662-1999
Starlight Ministries is a Christ centered ministry that provides hope, healing and support for children and adults who are grieving the death of a loved one. - Gilda's Club Grand Rapids
616-453-8300, option 2
Gilda's Club offers a grief group for parents who have lost a child as well as support groups for siblings. - Ele's Place
616-301-1605
Ele's Place is a healing center for grieving children and teens. - Spectrum Health
Bereavement Services
616-391-1753
Spectrum Health offers a support group for parents who have experienced an ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death.