Community report 5 30 17 (final)

Community Report Card 2014-2016: Working to reduce infant mortality A bou t th e Co llabo rat ive Racine Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families is a project of the Greater Racine Collaborative for Healthy Birth Outcomes convened by Racine Kenosha Community Action Agency, Inc. The collaborative consists of organizations that have unified to express one voice to eliminate racial disparity in African American Birth Outcomes. The goals of the Collaborative are: •

Reduce fetal and infant mortality 20% by 2019

•

Reduce prematurity 20% by 2019

The Collaborative is observing a downward trend in premature births and disparities. This is important because the average cost of premature births is $15,000 per baby. This does not include potential costs in the future if the infant experiences developmental issues.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Wisconsin Interactive Statistics on Health (WISH)

Making A Difference

WHAT ARE THE ROOT CAUSES? Some of the factors that increase an African American baby’s risk of being born preterm or dying before their first year of life are: • Stress before, during, and after pregnancy • Poor health before, during, and after pregnancy • Access to quality healthcare before, during, and after pregnancy

WHAT DID THE LIHF FUNDED PROGRAM ACCOMPLISH? Racine LIHF created a Community Action Plan that serves as a community-driven guide for addressing root causes in Racine. The plan was created after an in-depth review of research and data, community discussions and visits to communities that are also working to improve birth outcomes for African American infants. The community gave feedback on recommended actions and programs. These programs were funded with dollars from the Wisconsin Partnership Program and the funding ended in 2016. Below are goals and outcomes from the programs.

Birthing Project-Sister Friends-Professional Women’s Network for Service, Inc. The goal is to recruit Sister-Friends, volunteers in the African American community who mentor, nurture and support pregnant women through pregnancy, birth and infancy of their child.

Outcomes • The Birthing Project successfully assisted 100% of mothers to receive prenatal care and continued well-baby appointments, • Eighty-five percent (85%) of women initiated breastfeeding, • Nearly 91% of babies weighed over 5.5 pounds at birth.

Dr. Tasha Johnson speaks with Baby Expo atttendees

Centering Pregnancy:Ascension-All Saints The goal is to build a circle of support for women with similar due dates through group prenatal care.

Outcomes • Eleven of twelve obstetricians provided the centering model of care. Of the eleven, three are African American and one is Asian.

• Participants in Centering Pregnancy represent the demographics of the community.

• Preterm delivery rate of Centering Pregnancy patients is 5.7 compared to those who didn’t participate 13.2 • Fewer micropremies among Centering Pregnancy participants • Women breastfeeding at discharge, 67.3% of non-centering participants compared to 81.1%of centering participants

Focus on Fathers Expansion-Racine Family YMCA The goal is to support fathers who do not have custody of their children to develop parenting skills and healthy relationships to co-parent their children.

Outcomes • Of the men who enrolled, two thirds completed the Nurturing Fathers program • Three hundred participants were recruited to participate in these programs with an overall completion rate of 66% • Men who completed the program saw a significant increase in their Adult Adolescent Parenting Inventory scores across dimensions, representing a move toward lower risk parenting attitudes.

Reducing African American Infant Birth Disparities Through Decreased Prison Recidivism and In-creased Living-Wage Employment of Mothers and Fathers –Racine Vocational Ministry The goal is to help returning African American ex-offenders and their families improve their employment, income and educational options, and in the process reduce family stress and high infant mortality.

Outcomes • Levels of stress were lowered by 31% • Depression and anxiety levels were lower for working LIHF participants at each checkpoint compared to those who were not working • General mental health was consistently better for working than non-working clients

OTHER INITAITIVES OF THE COLLABORATIVE Baby Express/Black Infant Health

Baby Expo attendees

The goal is to connect, educate, and support women and their families during pregnancy, birth, and beyond to healthcare and community services.

Outcomes • Provided over 2,400 trips for pregnant women and their households with infants to medical and community services.

• 87 percent of pregnant women attended all of their scheduled appointments • 95 percent of newborns attended all of their Well Care Child checkups • 75 percent of participants in the Black Infant Health program attended with a support person (i.e. Baby’s father) • 92 percent of women that attended breastfeeding classes with support person initiated breastfeeding

Racine County Home Visiting Network

The goal is to promote healthy babies by providing comprehensive home visiting services to pregnant and parenting families.

Outcomes • Created a coordinated system of home visiting referrals by implementing a centralized intake system • Established a Stakeholder Group to serve in an advisory capacity to guide home visiting services • The majority of infants in home visiting services were placed on their back to sleep (93%).

Community Report 2014-2016 Partnering Organizations of the Collaborative • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Acelero Learning Ascension-All Saints Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Baby Express/Black Infant Health Catholic Charities Central Racine County Health Department City of Racine Public Health Department Health & Nutrition Service of Racine Johnson Foundation at Wingspread Planned Parenthood Professional Women’s Network for Service, Inc.-Birthing Project USA Racine County Child Support & Family Court Racine County Home Visitation Network

Highlights • • • •

Increased attendance and sponsorship for Baby Expo Expanded the focus of Adolescent Health to include faith based organizations Launched social media campaign to increase awareness of breastfeeding in the African American community Implemented Get Yourself Tested events to promote positive sexual health practices

Next Steps

• Develop strong partnerships to improve

breastfeeding rates in the African American community.

• Create inclusive strategies to boost

Adolescent Health

•

Identify strategies to address Birth to Three as a part of a survive and thrive focus

•

Locate additional dollars to continue the work of the Collaborative, programs, and initiatives

For more information go to healthybabiesracine.org Samantha J. Perry, Project Manager phone: (262) 637-8377

• • • • • • • • • • •

Racine County Human Services Department Racine Family YMCA Racine Kenosha Community Action Agency, Inc. Racine, Kenosha, Walworth Tobacco Coalition Racine Unified School District Racine Vocational Ministry Representative Cory Mason University of Wisconsin-Extension of Racine County University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee-School of Nursing University of Wisconsin-Parkside Community Volunteers

What Can You Do

Be a part of the movement to change the health of the community and join the Collaborative!

Visit www.healthybabiesracine.org to learn more and get involved.