Successes of a community partnership designed to reduce disparities in infant mortality

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.