1. Presented by: Shaleana Eubanks-Worlds, MS Project Coordinator SAVE OUR BABIES An Orange County Healthy Start Coalition Program

2. Mission: Our mission is to reduce and eventually eliminate racial disparities in perinatal health outcomes. SAVE OUR BABIES An Orange County Healthy Start Coalition Program

3. Orange County Infant Mortality Rates 1992-2003 By Race and Ethnicity

4. Why are our black babies dying? I. General Women’s Health Issues  Preconceptional health status  Substance use/abuse  Domestic violence  Unplanned pregnancies  Family planning/baby spacing SAVE OUR BABIES An Orange County Healthy Start Coalition Program

5. II.Access To Prenatal Care  Barriers to the Medicaid system  Transportation  Institutional racism  Lack of medical home  Lack of insurance/money Why are our black babies dying? SAVE OUR BABIES An Orange County Healthy Start Coalition Program

6. Program Goals: I.Provide and promote maternal-child health education in order to decrease disparities II.Increase early access and continuity of care by utilizing referral resources III.Provide training and support to minority businesses, community leaders, and consumers SAVE OUR BABIES An Orange County Healthy Start Coalition Program

7. SAVE OUR BABIES An Orange County Healthy Start Coalition Program Promoting MCH education to reduce racial disparities

8. SAVE OUR BABIES An Orange County Healthy Start Coalition Program Increasing access to care by utilizing referral sources

9. Providing training and support to minority businesses SAVE OUR BABIES An Orange County Healthy Start Coalition Program

10. Methods: Outreach workers I. Disseminate information to the community II. Host training workshops and informational sessions III. Engage the community for action SAVE OUR BABIES An Orange County Healthy Start Coalition Program

11. Disseminating information to the community SAVE OUR BABIES An Orange County Healthy Start Coalition Program

12. SAVE OUR BABIES An Orange County Healthy Start Coalition Program Hosting training workshops and informational sessions

13. SAVE OUR BABIES An Orange County Healthy Start Coalition Program Engaging the community to action

14. Results :  Increased awareness of racial disparities in birth outcomes  Increased knowledge of MCH issues  Willingness of citizens and businesses to form an advisory committee for the program in order to take ownership of the problem  Increased understanding of how to access the current health and social services system SAVE OUR BABIES An Orange County Healthy Start Coalition Program

15. Conclusions : Lessons Learned  Culturally appropriate educational materials  Information/referral phone line  Who delivers the message matters  Fostering relationships is vital but takes time Barriers Encountered  Time constraints of business owners, i.e. beauticians  Limited staff to address growing demand for outreach SAVE OUR BABIES An Orange County Healthy Start Coalition Program

16. SAVE OUR BABIES An Orange County Healthy Start Coalition Program The Bottom Line is…