The "Learning Network" is an initiative that is appropriate for those communities using or planning to use the PPOR Approach. PPOR is an approach or tool that can be used by large communities to examine their fetal and infant mortality by identifying gaps in their community, targeting resources for prevention activities, and mobilizing the community to action.
The overall purpose and intent of the "Learning Network" is:
- To increase knowledge, awareness, understanding and integration of systems among urban health departments and community/state partners.
- To promote the use of PPOR as a community-based tool to improve the health of women and infants.
- To provide easy-to-use materials and support services.
- To promote a linkage integration of PPOR Approach with related efforts (e.g. Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR), Healthy Start).
- Offer training opportunities to gain thorough knowledge and understanding of all PPOR Approach components.
- Affiliated with a registered CityMatCH Member Health Department
- Attended or plan to attend one of the CityMatCH on-site training workshops.
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1. Knowledge of the PPOR Approach:
- Knowledge of what it takes to conduct the PPOR approaches (all stages)
- Access to national level data
- 2. Technical outreach and communication:
- Ask-A-Colleague peer exchange
- Technical assistance and consultation
- Access to website powerpoints and information
- Topical conference calls and web-cast seminars
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3. Learning from others:
- Access to information regarding emerging best practices used in those cities using the PPOR approach
- Communities' written reports/assessments of PPOR findings will be shared
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4. PPOR Training and Certification:
- Training and certification for participating in CityMatCH PPOR Level 2 activities
Addressing Statewide Disparities in Infant Mortality: Lessons Learned from the Florida Black Infant Health Practice Initiative
Time: 3:00 - 4:00 PM Eastern Time
Presenters:
Estrellita 'Lo' Berry, MA
Project Director/Principal Investigator
Central Hillsborough Healthy Start Project
Tampa, FL
Thomas Bryant III, MSW
Administrator
Institute for Health, Policy, and Evaluation Research
Duval County Healthy Department
Jacksonville, FL
Sandra Suther, PhD
Assistant Professor,
Behavioral Science and Health Education,
Florida A&M University
In 2007, the Governor of Florida, Charlie Crist, signed into law HB 1269 a bill which created a statewide practice collaborative, the Black Infant Health Practice Initiative (BIHPI). BIHPI brought together politicians, state and local health departments, Federal and State Healthy Start sites, 2 major universities (Florida A&M and the University of South Florida), residents and other key stakeholders to identify and create interventions for risk factors that contribute to higher African-American infant mortality rates. As a result of this legislation, BIHPI created three work groups (Quantitative, Qualitative, and Community Engagement and Mobilization) to address black infant mortality in 8 counties in Florida. The counties have used information gathered from PPOR analysis, Fetal Infant Mortality Review analysis, focus group results, and community engagement strategies to work towards the elimination of disparities in infant mortality. Presenters will discuss an overview of the legislation, the efforts of the three workgroups and eight counties, and their recommendations back to the State Legislature to work toward eliminating disparities in infant mortality.
