Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
On the south side of the 5th largest city in the U.S., Phoenix, Arizona, are some the highest poverty and lowest education rates in the State compounded by unacceptable health disparities, including high Infant and Maternal Mortality rates (IMR). Also, on the south side of Phoenix is South Phoenix Healthy Start (SPHS), a family service program that implements strategies to provide cultural and linguistically appropriate evidence-based practices, designed to reduce health disparities. SPHS developed goals and objectives to address Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) through its programming and Community Consortium collective impact work that will reduce health disparities in the 15 zip codes proposed. The target populations include 1) Black women of childbearing age and their children under 2 years of age living in the proposed project area 2) fathers/males and/or partners of that population 3) additional opportunities with populations such as Native Americans, Kinship care and Refugees. South Phoenix Healthy Start’s proposed project area is comprised of 15 zip codes covering approximately 234 square miles, situated in the urban Phoenix Metropolitan area in Maricopa County, Arizona. From 2019-2021, the project area was home to 711,127 individuals, from which 33,897 infants were born in the project area. Individuals living in the project area have a diverse array of experiences informed by many different backgrounds, cultural heritages, and linguistic traditions; 8.9% of the target population identifies as Black. In the target area infant mortality rates persisted across racial groups as the 3-year combined IMR for African Americans was 12.99 infant deaths / 1,000 live births, 2.5 times the IMR for white non-Hispanic babies. Because 18% of our African American population is considered more than one race and our county vital statistics only accounts for single race infants, many African American infants may be underrepresented in the IMR. Africa n American infants in the target area were also at greater risk of being born low birth weight or premature (13.69% and 14.64%). SPHS already implements highly successful initiatives to families including extensive case management, care coordination and doulas services; comprehensive health education classes and activities on a variety of topics ranging from story time, car seat safety, safe sleep, and home safety to childbirth, nutrition, and breast-feeding classes among others; mental health and social determinants screenings, assistance applying for insurance, referral to a medical home and social services providers; as well as other services. SPHS will continue improving systems integration and coordinated care in our target service area by strengthening relationships with community and contracted partners. Wooten & Associates will provide direct mental health services to participants, and we will contract with a local medical clinic to provide direct medical services to our participants. Our newly revamped Community Consortium will function as a backbone organization to advise and inform strategies for providing direct and enabling services to SPHS. Work plan activities include developing cross-sector partnerships to ensure coordinated, comprehensive maternal, child, and family medical care; health and parenting education; community-based resources that address social determinants of health within the project area; and participation in Communities of Practice to develop and implement a strategic plan for the community that focuses on at least one social determinant of health. With funding from the HS grant, SPHS will provide case management/care coordination to a minimum of 450 participants, healthy education to 200 individuals, direct medical health services to 200 participants, and direct behavioral health services to 100 individuals annually.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
