Baker County was one of the first thirty-seven counties selected to initiate the Vanguard Phase of the National Children’s Study. Recruitment began in early 2011.
Baker County is a small, land-locked, rural county of 589 square miles in Northeast Florida. Forest and swamp comprise more than 60 percent of the land mass. Baker County has one of the smallest populations (estimated to be 25,868 in 2008) among all locations selected to participate in the National Children’s Study and has low rates of migration of population both entering and leaving the county. Baker County includes about 8,900 households with an average of 2.9 residents per household. The average number of annual live births occurring among all Baker County women for calendar years 2006–2008 was 408.
The National Children’s Study effort in Baker County will recruit mothers and newborn babies into the Study over a 4-year period. The Study will compile information about the growth, health and development, and environment of all 100,000 children enrolled in the national study beginning before birth and continuing through age 21. One of the goals of the Study is to understand better the precursors of conditions such as premature birth, asthma, autism, diabetes, and obesity. It is hoped that better understanding will result in changes in medical care, education, and public policy that will improve the outcome of all children.
A large team is working together with residents of Baker County to plan and conduct this important study in our area. This team represents a partnership among researchers from the University of Miami, the University of Florida, and the University of South Florida; the Baker County Health Department; Battelle Memorial Institute; other civic, community, and faith-based organizations in Baker County; and a community advisory group.
For more information about the National Children’s Study, select from the following resources:
Or call us at our local office at 904-653-5100.