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Abstract #152577

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Daniel J. Kruger, PhD, Prevention Research Center, University of Michigan, 1420 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, (734) 936-4927, djk2012@gmail.com, Tonya M. Turner, REACH 2010 Coordinator, Genesee County Health Department, 630 S. Saginaw Street, Flint, MI 48502-1540, and Yvonne Lewis, Faith Access to Community Economic Development, 310 East Third Street, 5th Floor, Flint, MI 48503.

The Genesee County REACH 2010 partnership focuses on reducing disparities in perinatal health and infant mortality in Genesee County, MI. This project explicitly adopts a CBPH framework and follows the values, knowledge, expertise, and interests of Community Based Organization partners. Partners in this initiative agree that no single intervention will eliminate racial disparities and that interventions must precede, include, and follow the period of pregnancy. Core themes for the work include: reducing racism, enhancing the baby care system, and fostering community mobilization. Strategies include community dialogue and awareness, education and training, outreach and advocacy, and mentoring and support. Vital statistics data indicates a substantial drop in African American infant mortality in Genesee County in 2005. The African American infant mortality rate remains lower in 2006 than in years prior to intervention activities. This presentation will describe multiple strategies to address disparities in infant mortality at the individual and institutional level. Around a dozen programs are funded by the Genesee County REACH 2010 initiative, each with a different emphasis. Evaluation efforts track perinatal health outcomes, as well as the content of specific intervention programs.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe individual and institutional factors related to infant mortality
• Describe multiple strategies to address disparities in infant mortality.
• Identify successes in initiatives addressing factors related to disparities in infant mortality.

Keywords: Infant Mortality, Community-Based Health Promotion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Slides (pdf) or Handout