Promoting social justice through a community-based African American infant mortality reduction program

The Genesee County, Michigan REACH US initiative is a CDC funded collaborative project between local health infrastructures, community based organizations, and universities to reduce the disparity in African American infant mortality. The REACH US Community Action Plan was generated using a community-based participatory approach and is based on a socio-ecological model with interventions at the individual, health system, and community levels. The three core themes guiding REACH US activities are enhancing the health care system, community engagement, and reducing racism. Community engagement events include Community Dialogues and events hosted by two coalitions which have emerged from REACH US community engagement activities, Black Men for Social Change (BMSC) and Women Taking Charge of their Health Destiny (WTCHD). Participants were also able to identify more issues affecting the health of African American mothers and their infants and actions that could help improve the health of African American mothers and their infants in Genesee County after the events, compared to their responses prior to the event. African American infant mortality in Genesee County declined to a historic low in 2005 and rates remain lower than in previous years. REACH partners believe that no single intervention or activity can be credited for this effect, but that efforts focusing on multiple levels of the socio-ecological model have had a synergistic effect. This presentation will document how the REACH partnership activities incorporate APHA 2010's meeting theme “Social Justice: Public Health Imperative.”