Transcript Infant Mortality – The Problem

Dannai Harriel, Perinatal Systems Liaison, Healthy Start, Inc.
Pittsburgh/Allegheny County
Marlene Kolosky, Perinatal Systems Liaison, Fayette County Healthy Start
CityMatCH Conference
August 25-28, 2007
Denver, CO
Every two minutes, a low birth weight baby is born
o
African–American babies are more than twice as likely to
die before their first birthday than white babies.
o
African-American babies are nearly five times more
likely to die from prematurity than white babies.
o
Birth defects are the number one cause of death during
the first year of life for all babies in the United States.
o
The Healthy Start program was launched in
1991 by the Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Public Health
Service to demonstrate innovative ways to reduce
infant mortality in some of the areas with the highest
infant mortality rates in the country.
o
It is legislatively mandated that Healthy Start
grants establish and maintain for the life of the
project, a community-based consortium of
individuals and organizations.
o
Healthy Start of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County has
been committed from its inception to make this project
truly community-driven.
o
Assessments drawn from community forums and focus
groups confirmed, significant improvement in infant
mortality rates will require more than a medical model; it
will require attitudinal change and commitment on the
part of an entire community.
o
To achieve such commitment to change requires
sustained and cooperative involvement of the community
in both planning and implementation.
To focus primarily on the reduction of infant mortality
and low birth weight babies in Southwestern PA in
such a way as to make valuable use of its resources,
preserve its flexibility and continue to offer seamless
services with the intent of improving the quality of
life of infants, toddlers, youths, siblings, parents and
grandparents and the community.
Two major objectives of the Pittsburgh Healthy
Start Program include:
o
Creation of the non-profit Healthy Start, Inc. to
implement the project with a Board of Directors
that was sensitive to participant needs.
o
Maximize community involvement through a
consortium and other community empowerment
strategies.
Consortia –
A broad-based group of community leaders and consumers
active in the planning, implementation process and in
mobilizing their respective communities.
Board of Directors –
Composed of consumers and community leaders from the
private and public sectors serve as the primary advisory arm of
the Pittsburgh/Allegheny County Healthy Start program
responsible for ensuring that the systemic, strategic vision of
the project is realized throughout all program initiatives
o
Healthy Start is designed to support the
comprehensive, participant–driven approach of the
project.
o
It is systematic and interactive in nature, that is, it
provides for the involvement of community
representation at all levels of the planning and
implementation process.
Community Model
Board of Directors
Healthy Start Consortium
FCHIP
Healthy Start Central
Management
Service Area Composition
3
Housing
Consumers
3
Consumers
4
Youths
2
Neighborhood
Organizations
2
Local Businesses
North Side
Regional
Consortium
Center City
Regional
Consortium
Perinatal Task Force
2
Religious Leaders
East End
Regional
Consortium
2
Government
Representatives
5
Human Service
Providers
South Side
Regional
Consortium
West End
Regional
Consortium
Duquesne/
Braddock
Regional
Consortium
In 2001, Fayette County Healthy Start implemented a
three-pronged approach to community involvement:
o
Healthy Start, Inc. Board of Directors
o
Fayette Community Health Improvement Partnership
(CHIP)
o
Perinatal Task Force
Consortia
Fayette County
Masontown
Target Area
Brownsville
Target Area
CHIP
Connellsville
Target Area
Uniontown
Target Area
Board of Directors
Perinatal Task Force
Healthy Start Central
Management
Fayette Healthy Start
Service Area Composition
HomeCare
State MCH
Consultant
Hospital
Community
Health Center
Healthy Start Multidisciplinary
Team
Specialty
Service
Provicers
Private
Physicians &
Pediatric
Dentists
PA Perinatal
Partnership
The Community Health Improvement Partnership (CHIP)Formed in 1995 to address the health disparities for residents
of Fayette. CHIP’s professional membership encompasses all
facets of health and human services, hospitals, private/public
sectors, therefore developing partnerships on all levels.
The Perinatal Task Force-A broad- based group of
individuals from the community and local agencies, active in
designing and supporting grassroots advocacy initiatives to
reduce infant mortality and eliminate health disparities.
o
o
o
o
o
o
Program Participants-25 or
28%
Community-Based
Organizations- 24 or 27%
State/Local Government-2 or
2%
Community Participants- 26
or 30%
Private Agencies- 6 or 7%
Other- 5 or 6%
Pittsburgh/Allegheny County-Urban
o
o
o
o
o
o
Program Participants-2 or
7%
Community-Based
Organizations.- 11-41%
State/Local Government- 2 or
7%
Community Participants-5
19%
Private Agencies.- 3-11%
Other-4- 15%
Fayette County -Rural
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Promote the mission of the Healthy Start Program
Develop a Local Health Systems Action Plan
(LHSAP)
Refer eligible families for service
Needs assessments
Evaluate service delivery system
Volunteering and mentoring
Provide training/expertise to staff development
o
Indigenous hiring
o
Identify resources to prolong the financial
sustainability of the project
o
Heighten awareness and cultural sensitivity about
health disparities and infant mortality
In Southwestern PA the Board of Directors along with
the Consortia and Perinatal Task Force actively
enhance the reduction of infant mortality through a
holistic program of individual and neighborhood
empowerment that promises to improve the quality of
life for residents of all ages.
o
Healthy Start, as designed and implemented, is a longterm rather than a short-term strategy to reducing infant
mortality.
o
Healthy Start has shown that local communities can,
with support, develop and implement innovative
approaches to reducing infant mortality
For more information about us,
call the Healthy Start Helplines at:
(412) 247-1000
or
(724) 425-1799
or
visit our website at:
www.healthystartpittsburgh.org
Healthy Start, Inc. is supported in part by project No. CFDA #93.926E from the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau (Title V, Social Security Act)