Our Work
The Racine LIHF project is a community-wide effort to close the black-white gap in birth outcomes in Racine. The collaborative is a large group (over 80 individuals) that meets monthly to develop a community action plan for to reducing the African American infant mortality rate. We are open to those who are also willing to learn with us how to improve birth outcomes. This work will improve life for everyone, not just those directly impacted by the tragic loss of a baby.
During 2006 - 2008, the infant mortality rate for African-American infants in Racine was 19.9/1000 compared to 6.8/1000 for Caucasian infants, almost 4 times higher. Contrary to popular belief, the highest rates do not occur in African American teen mothers; they occurred in women between the ages of 20-34 years of age. The cause of most fetal and infant deaths was due to babies being born too soon.
Our work is based on the findings of Dr. Michael Lu and his colleagues. They discovered that there are multiple points that one must consider when thinking about decreasing negative birth outcomes in the African American community.
Members of the collaborative work in self selected teams that are focused on the following goals:
- Expanding healthcare access over the life course
- Strengthening father involvement in African American families
- Enhancing coordination and integration of family support services
- Creating reproductive capital in African American communities
- Reducing poverty among African American families
- Supporting working mother and families
