Wayne County, MI

Team Profile Summary

The Wayne County team tackles social issues related to infant mortality such as social isolation of young girls and gender pay equity. Out team identified the five Social Determinants of Health affecting infant mortality:

1. Education
2. Employment
3. Social Isolation
4. Social Perception of Girls and Women and
5. Structural Racism

Team Profile Details

Problem Statement

High Infant Mortality and Disparity in Infant Mortality in Wayne County, Michigan currently ranks among the worst five states with regard to racial and ethnic disparities in Infant Mortality Rates (IMR). In Wayne County Infant Mortality is more than twice as prevalent in African-American population as compared to whites (16/1,000 13.7/1000 of live births versus 5.6/1000live births respectively as of 2006). While this disparity is largely due to higher low birth weights in the African-Americans as compared to Caucasians (12.1%versus 6.7% of live births) the Wayne County Infant Mortality Team (TEAM) recognizes that Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) impact pregnancy outcomes and for a significant and sustained reduction in Infant Mortality these SDOH will need to be addressed.

Team Objectives and Actions

1. Distribution of White Paper to Stakeholders informing them of the problem. Have a committed group of Stakeholders that champion and/or implement strategies that increase self assurance and self reliance in women.
2. Increased Community Dialogue on valuing womanhood and the value of improved preconception and inter conception health.
3. Institutionalization of policies that value womanhood

The Wayne County Infant Mortality Reduction Steering Committee includes the following partners:

• Tomorrow’s Child
• Detroit Wayne County Health Authority
• Child Care Coordinating Council
• St. John Hospital
• Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center
• Henry Ford Health System
• Healthy Families America
• Michigan Dept. of Community Health
• St. Clements Episcopal Church
• Greater Detroit Area Health Council
• University of Michigan
• MDCH-Women, Infant & Family Health Section
• Wayne County Head Start
• Beaumont Hospital
• Metro-Detroit Chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW)
• March of Dimes
• Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength (MOSES)
• RBJ Enterprises
• Community Driven Policy Making
• Hutzel Hospital
• MICH U CAN
• Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength (MOSES)
• Michigan Universal Health Care Access Network
• Infant Mortality Program
• Michigan Public Health Institute
• Infant Mortality Program
• Detroit Wayne County Mental Health Agency
• Detroit Medical Center
• Detroit East
• Eastern Michigan University
• U of M School of Public Health
• Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice