The Nurturing Umbrella was developed by the Lewis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church Minority Infant Mortality Reduction Program Grant Com- mittee. Following a needs assessment and analysis of the results, community wide awareness activities were implemented to inform the public of the issue of infant mortality and to encourage networking and collaboration.

In January of 1999, the program received a 2-1/2 year implementation grant from the Division of Women's Health State of North Carolina, De- partment of Health and Human Services to address the reduction of infant mortality in Cumberland County.

The Reverend Doctor John D. Fuller, Sr., Senior Pastor and Chief Execu- tive Officer of Lewis Chapel Church appointed a seventeen member Advisory Board to oversee and direct the activities of the Program. The Advisory Board consists of members of the community with diverse professional and civic backgrounds.