Presented by: Lesli P. Ahonkhai, MA Data Analyst Linda Sutherland Executive Director

1. SAVE OUR BABIES An Orange County Healthy Start Coalition Preconception Health Program Presented by: Lesli P. Ahonkhai, MA Data Analyst Linda Sutherland Executive Director The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention National Summit on Preconception Care Jun 21-23, 2005 Atlanta, GA

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

3. Orange County Infant Mortality Rates 2000-2003By Race and Ethnicity

4. Orange County Excess Feto-Infant Mortality Rates By Race and Ethnicity

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

14. SAVE OUR BABIES An Orange County Healthy Start Coalition Preconception Health Program Engaging the community

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

16. SAVE OUR BABIES An Orange County Healthy Start Coalition Preconception Health Program • Conclusions: What works? Peer education and support groups Culturally appropriate educational materials Information/referral phone line What are some barriers? Time constraints of business owners, i.e. beauticians Limited providers in targeted zip codes Limited staff to address growing demand for service

17. “In a moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing to do. The worst thing you can do is nothing.” -Theodore Roosevelt