Racine Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families

Johnson Foundation at Wingspread & Racine/Kenosha Community Action Agency

IntroductionsBackground on the CollaborativePresentationsDiscussion Groups

PresentersSamantha J. PerryAhmad QawiCarrie ScruggsDonna HammondTonya EvansZakee DarrNicole Urquhart

What is the Racine Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families?The collaborative is a group of

residents, community and state government agencies who are concerned about the high rate of infant mortality in Racine

Led by the Johnson Foundation at Wingspread in cooperation with the Racine Kenosha Community Action Agency

What is the Racine Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families?Wisconsin Partnership Program-

Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families Action Planning Grant in April 2010

Funds are targeted to the development of a community action plan to reduce infant mortality, and support the Birthing Project

Racine City DataDuring 2006 - 2008, the infant mortality rate

for African-American infants in Racine City was 3 times higher than for Caucasian infants.

Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services, Division of Public Health, Bureau of Health Information and Policy. Wisconsin Interactive Statistics on Health (WISH) data query system, http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/wish/, Infant Mortality Module, accessed 01/28/11.

Mother's Race/Ethnicity

Maternal Age (Grouped)

All ages

15-17 yrs

18-19 yrs

20-24 yrs

25-29 yrs

30-34 yrs

35-39 yrs

All Selected 11.19 16.76

5.76 15.19 11.44

9.10 4.02

Non-Hispanic White

6.81 13.16

5.88 7.68 7.28 5.67 5.03

Non-Hispanic Black

19.90 19.42

5.65 25.64 22.44

23.08 X

6

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 20090.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

30.00

35.00

40.00

4.51

18.13

Infant Mortality Rate (<365 days) per 1,000 Live Births

City of Racine All-Racine CityWhite-Racine City

Rate

Fetal and Infant Death (2007-2008)

White

AfricanAmerican

Puberty Pregnancy0 5ys

The Racial Gap in Reproductive Potential: A Life-Course Perspective Lu and Halfon,MCHJ, 2003

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Our GoalsImproving healthcare for African

American WomenStrengthening African American

communities and familiesReducing stress over the lifetime

of families

Our PrioritiesImproving healthcare access for

pregnant womenImprove fatherhood involvementImprove how systems talk and

work togetherImprove community

connectednessReduce povertySupport working families

Why are you here?Make sure we are correctInput on programs to be recommended

Additional input on our next steps

Our Next StepsComplete the community action plan◦Recommended programs◦Role of the collaborative

RECOMMENDED PROGRAMS

NORTHERN MANHATTAN PERINATAL PARTNERSHIP

Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership OverviewMission is to save babies and help women

take charge of their reproductive, social and economic lives

The NMPP is an organization which primary services are case management and referral◦Passionate frontline workers,◦Informal relationships with community-

based partnersNeighborhood approachMany program and services working

together for a common goal

Recommendation for Racine“This is how we need to do

business”Improve communication with all

agencies and organization to better serve families

EXISTING PROGRAMS

BIRTHING PROJECT USA-SISTER FRIENDS EXPANSION

Birthing Project – Sister Friends OverviewBirthing Project SisterFriends is an

extended family model Each volunteer SisterFriend is responsible

for one pregnant woman.During pregnancy, the primary focus is

on ◦obtaining, understanding and

complying with prenatal care ◦development of resources necessary to

maintain a healthy lifestyle, such as identifying health and social

◦ attending childbirth preparation and parenting classes and being a birth partner, if needed

Birthing Project – Sister Friends OverviewProject participation continues

through the child’s first birthdaySupports her extended family in

obtaining ◦parenting and life skills◦ identifying and pursuing education and employment goals

◦understanding that she is part of a community which cares for and values her

Recommendation for RacineRacine/Kenosha Birthing Project

operated by the Professional Women’s Network for Service, Inc.

Expand the number of volunteers to serve more women

Served 22 women since February 2010

Delivered 7 full term babies

FOCUS ON FATHERS/NURTURING FATHERS

Focus on Fathers/Nurturing Fathers Nurturing Fathers is a fatherhood program

designed to help men develop nurturing attitudes and skills.

The program serves minority, low income, and noncustodial fathers of all races. Father’s ages range from 16-50 years of age.

Nurturing fathers addresses infant mortality through:

Infant mortality education that includes: discussions, videos, speakers, and pamphlets

Developing healthy relationship skills with a trained family therapist

Teaching men to recognize, and meet their own needs

Education fathers on the needs of children and the children’s mother

 

Focus on Fathers/Nurturing FathersWhat does the program do? Participants learn:

◦ How to balance work and fathering◦ The difference between fathering sons vs.

daughters◦ Fathering without using fear or violence◦ Discipline techniques that work◦ Anger Management◦ Meeting child support obligations, and many other

successful fathering strategiesThe program also help men deal with other

issues surrounding manhood, absence of their own fathers, and relating to women better.

Recommendation for RacineNurturing Father’s Program is

operated by the Racine YMCAServed 1,000 fathers since 2007

through the Children’s First Program

Expand the program to ALL fathers

NEW PROGRAMS

CENTERINGPREGNANCY

Centering Pregnancy-Overview

•Group Prenatal Care Program•Three major components of care: •health assessment•education •support

•Eight to twelve women at the same stage of pregnancy meet together for 10 sessions throughout pregnancy and after birth •The midwife, within the group space, completes standard physical health assessments 

Recommendation for RacineGroups are lead by a nurse

practitionerGroups take place in the community

◦Church◦The YMCA◦Community Center

HEALTH LEADS

HEALTH LEADS OverviewHealth Leads physicians can

“prescribe” food, housing, health insurance, job training, fuel assistance, or other resources for their patients as routinely as they do medication

Located in waiting rooms and staffed by college volunteers, Health Leads volunteers “fill” these prescriptions by connecting patients with key resources.

HEALTH LEADSHealth Leads’ referrals to

government and community resources ◦affordable housing, child care,

employment, GED classes, and job training

Enable families to avoid crises Help with link families to

increased income and education opportunities,

Recommendation for RacineSetup staff at All Saints and/or

WIC Office on RapidsWork with Gateway and UW-

Parkside to get student volunteers

NORTHERN NEW JERSEY MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH CONSORTIUM- IRVINGTON SUCCESS CENTER

Recommendation Four

Northern New Jersey Maternal Child Health Consortium- Irvington Success Center

OverviewThe goal of the IFDC is to strengthen and

empower familiesFriendly neighborhood gathering place

where families can go to receive different types of services for themselves and the people they care about

Place where anyone can go for family support, job readiness, workshops, and other general support services

Helps to strengthen lives by empowering all families to succeed

Recommendation for RacineNeighborhood centered success

centerTarget Census tracts 3,4, and 5

BIRTHING PROJECT USA-BARER SHOP

Barber Shop OverviewHelps fathers to become active parents in their

children’s livesOffers emotional support and links

fathers to community networks and resources for:◦ Parenting and life skills ◦ Job placement and employment training◦ Housing assistance◦ Anger management counseling◦ Substance abuse counseling◦ Legal and Medical assistance◦ Re-entry support for fathers involved in the criminal

justice system

Recommendation for RacineProgram operate with Nurturing

Fathers Program

TEEN SKILLS PROGRAM

Teen Skills ProgramOperated at Mary’s Center in

Washington DCProgram teaches teen basic skills

such as cooking, finance management, and housekeeping

BABY FAST (FAMILY AND SCHOOLS TOGETHER

Baby FAST OverviewMultifamily group (parents,

grandparents, etc)Designed for young parents, but it can

work for older parentsIntended to protect vulnerable families

with risk factors, such as single-parent families, teen moms, isolated families, or within communities with higher risk factors.

Monitor babies during cognitive and behaviors development

Baby FAST OverviewFamily:

◦reduced aggression, anxiety, depression in families

◦reduced family conflict and stress◦improved well baby skills and awareness◦improved family unity and

communication◦improved extended family

communication◦revived parenting skills◦child brain and neural stimulation

Recommendation for RacineProgram can operate at a school

or community centerProgram for parents 20 years and

older

PARENTS AS TEACHERS

Parents as Teachers OverviewRelationship-based and

parenting-focused home visiting program

Provides: ◦parenting education ◦family support ◦building supports

Parents as Teachers OverviewFocus on

◦parent-child interaction◦development-centered parenting ◦family well-being

Serves a range of families with high needs—not just first time parents,

Offers services throughout the continuum from prenatal to kindergarten entry

COORDINATION OF PRENATAL CARE

Prenatal Care Coordination OverviewPrenatal Care Coordination is a Medicaid

and BadgerCare Plus benefit that helps pregnant women get the support and services they need to have a healthy baby

Prenatal Care Coordination services include:◦Help getting the health care you need.◦Personal support.◦ Information on good eating habits and health

practices.◦ Information and help finding needed services

in your community.

Recommendations for RacineProgram that is separate yet

mirrors PNCCExpand this service to women

with all insurancesOperate at a local community

health center