FLINT (WJRT) -
(02/20/12) - They are the most vulnerable group in our society: babies.
The numbers show infant mortality and abuse of infants is up.
Over the weekend, ABC12 News learned of two separate cases involving infants.
In one, a 5-week-old baby is dead, and in another, a 14-month-old baby was critically injured.
Flint Police are investigating what they call a "suspicious" infant death.
Investigators tell ABC12 they were called to Hurley Medical Center Saturday morning after a five-week-old baby boy was brought in by family.
He was not breathing when he came in and later died.
Investigators won't say whether the baby had any injuries.
In a separate incident, the Genesee County prosecutor says Burton police were called to a home on Chicory Lane near Meadowcroft Drive on Feb. 11 for a baby in distress. He had suffered a skull fracture and bleeding in the brain in addition to other bruises on the head and body, but he is recovering.
Officials say 19-year-old Zachary Robinett, the mother's boyfriend, was alone with the infant while the mother went to work.
Robinett has been charged with first degree child abuse.
Advocacy groups with a mission to prevent shaken baby syndrome say it needs to be viewed as a public health issue, not just a crime.
"These are the types of cases that are preventable," said Jonquil Bertschi, executive director of the Weiss Advocacy Center.
Bertschi says infant mortality and infant abuse cases have increased more here than any other part of the state. They link the problem to Flint's high teen age pregnancy rate. "Teenage moms are more likely to have teenage boyfriends and teenage boys are one of the leading causes of shaken baby syndrome."
Advocacy groups insist being proactive is critical.
The Weiss Center is holding a workshop on abuse prevention on Monday, Feb. 27. It will held be held at the Weiss Advocacy Center located at 515 East Street in Flint.
