Mommy and Me Pregnancy Education Classes

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Mommy and Me Pregnancy Education Classes

• CityMatch Panel Discussion
• August 26, 2007
• A pilot project for the March of Dimes- CDC
  cooperative agreement "Reducing Disparities in
  Premature Birth"
• Janine Lewis, MPH, PhD(c)
• Director Health Promotions
• Westside Health Authority
• Chicago, Illinois

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Goal of Project

• Mommy and Me classes are 1 component of a
  larger program, Healthy Births for Healthy
  Communities
• Goal Improve birth outcomes of African American
  infants born in Austin with high infant mortality
  due to preterm birth and sudden infant death
  syndrome.

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Westside Health Authority

• Incorporated in 1990 under the leadership of Mrs.
  Jackie Reed, President/CEO
• Mission To use the capacity of local people to
  improve the health and well-being of Westside
  residents.
• Conceptual framework Every Block a Village
• www.healthauthority.org

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Austin A Chicago Community
Austin A Chicago Community

• Austin 1/77 community areas in Chicago
• With nearly 118,000 residents, Austin is the most
  densely populated community in Chicago, Illinois.
• If Austin were taken out of Chicago, it would be
  the fifth largest city in Illinois.
• Austin demographic make up
• 54 Women
• 90 African American
• 47 living below twice the poverty level
• MCH Indicators
• Approximate 2,000 live births annually 21 to
  teen mothers
• 14.5 LBW
• IMR 15.8/1000

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Healthy Births for Healthy Communities

• Three-year pilot project funded by Steans
  Foundation/IL DHS
• Goal To find high-risk pregnant women and guide
  them to prenatal care, WIC, case management
  services
• WHA 1 of 2 outreach agencies
• Mommy and Me pregnancy education groups

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Healthy Births for Healthy Communities

• Community Health Advocate Training
• 12 session curriculum (3 hours/session)
• Topics included Communication, Health
  Disparities, Healthy Births, Prematurity (NICU
  tour), SIDS
• Cross-training of HBHC/CTG staff (continuing ed)
• Topics included domestic violence, smoking
  cessation, housing, postpartum depression

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Partners

• Partners include
• Illinois Department of Human Services
• March of Dimes Illinois Chapter
• Steans Family Foundation
• Austin Wellness Center of Cook County

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Mommy and Me Classes

• Six course session over four months (March-June
  07)
• Course development informed by 2 focus groups
  held in January
• Facilitated by 2 peer advocates and a Coordinator
• Topics covered Prematurity/SIDS, HIV/AIDS,
  postpartum depression, nutrition, birth defects,
  stress management, case management/WIC,
  childbirth, breastfeeding
• Referrals to prenatal care, case management, and
  WIC services provided

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Mommy and Me Classes

• Recruitment HBHC program clients at referral
  agencies/neighborhood clinics/word of mouth
• Evaluation Pre/post tests at each session
  overall evaluation of program given at last
  educational session
• Sustainability Presently searching for
  additional funding to continue this program

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Evaluation Results

• 86 rated classes as excellent
• 100 noted that information was easy to
  understand
• 100 noted that training schedule was just
  right in terms of length
• Favorite session SIDS (new information, speaker
  energetic and helpful)

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Mommy and Me Baby Shower June 13, 2007
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Bs Story

• African-American woman in early 30s
• Pregnant with twins has 3 children married
• Sometimes takes bus to travel to class
• B was referred by class facilitators to high-risk
  targeted intensive case management services
• Gave facilitators little presents at the end of
  class said that they made the course fun
• Delivered twins about 4 weeks after class ended
  delivered at full-term and both at normal
  birthweight

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Thanks for attending our panel!

• Any questions?
• Contact Info
• Janine Lewis
• jlewis6_at_gmail.com
• 773-786-0249