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Lessons Learned from Implementing a Place-Based, Racial Justice-Centered Approach to Health Equity.
Matern Child Health J. 2021 Jan; 25(1):66-71.MC

Abstract

PURPOSE

As theories about the causes of racial inequities in infant mortality evolve, they are becoming increasingly complex. Interventions to address these inequities must be similarly complex, incorporating both upstream and downstream approaches.

DESCRIPTION

The Best Babies Zone Initiative (BBZ) has been in operation since 2012 with an aim of reducing racial inequities in infant mortality. BBZ is designed to be flexible and responsive to the conditions creating toxic stress in communities of color. After seven years of operation in nine sites across the United States, and interventions implemented in housing, economic, and environmental justice, the Initiative has identified strategies to support the development and advancement of aligned programs.

ASSESSMENT

Lessons learned and opportunities were identified across the Initiative's theoretical foundation (the life course perspective) and each of the four foundational strategies: place-based, community-driven, multi-sector work that contributes to broader social movements. Overarching lessons learned about advancing equity in MCH were identified including: the need to focus explicitly on racial equity, the imperative of shifting the time horizon for change, and the importance of identifying sustainable funding mechanisms.

CONCLUSION

A complex initiative such as BBZ is relatively nascent in the field of Maternal and Child Health. However it represents an innovative approach to building community power and fostering strategic organizational partnerships in service of addressing root causes of racial inequities in birth outcomes. The lessons learned and opportunities identified by BBZ can serve as a foundation from which to build other programs and initiatives to advance racial justice.

Links

Publisher Full Text (DOI)

Authors+Show Affiliations

Reno R
School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, USA. rmreno@berkeley.edu.
Warming E
School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, USA.
Zaugg C
School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, USA.
Marx K
School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, USA.
Pies C
School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, USA.

MeSH

Community NetworksCommunity ParticipationEthnicityHealth EquityHealth PromotionHealth Status DisparitiesHuman RightsHumansInfantInfant MortalityNebraskaPolicy MakingPublic HealthRacismSocial Determinants of HealthSocioeconomic FactorsUnited States

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

33242209

Citation

Reno, Rebecca, et al. "Lessons Learned From Implementing a Place-Based, Racial Justice-Centered Approach to Health Equity." Maternal and Child Health Journal, vol. 25, no. 1, 2021, pp. 66-71.
Reno R, Warming E, Zaugg C, et al. Lessons Learned from Implementing a Place-Based, Racial Justice-Centered Approach to Health Equity. Matern Child Health J. 2021;25(1):66-71.
Reno, R., Warming, E., Zaugg, C., Marx, K., & Pies, C. (2021). Lessons Learned from Implementing a Place-Based, Racial Justice-Centered Approach to Health Equity. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 25(1), 66-71. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-020-03076-1
Reno R, et al. Lessons Learned From Implementing a Place-Based, Racial Justice-Centered Approach to Health Equity. Matern Child Health J. 2021;25(1):66-71. PubMed PMID: 33242209.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Lessons Learned from Implementing a Place-Based, Racial Justice-Centered Approach to Health Equity. AU - Reno,Rebecca, AU - Warming,Emily, AU - Zaugg,Claudia, AU - Marx,Kate, AU - Pies,Cheri, Y1 - 2020/11/26/ PY - 2020/11/07/accepted PY - 2020/11/27/pubmed PY - 2021/8/13/medline PY - 2020/11/26/entrez KW - Infant mortality KW - Life course theory KW - Place-based approach KW - Racial and socioeconomic disparities KW - Social determinants of health SP - 66 EP - 71 JF - Maternal and child health journal JO - Matern Child Health J VL - 25 IS - 1 N2 - PURPOSE: As theories about the causes of racial inequities in infant mortality evolve, they are becoming increasingly complex. Interventions to address these inequities must be similarly complex, incorporating both upstream and downstream approaches. DESCRIPTION: The Best Babies Zone Initiative (BBZ) has been in operation since 2012 with an aim of reducing racial inequities in infant mortality. BBZ is designed to be flexible and responsive to the conditions creating toxic stress in communities of color. After seven years of operation in nine sites across the United States, and interventions implemented in housing, economic, and environmental justice, the Initiative has identified strategies to support the development and advancement of aligned programs. ASSESSMENT: Lessons learned and opportunities were identified across the Initiative's theoretical foundation (the life course perspective) and each of the four foundational strategies: place-based, community-driven, multi-sector work that contributes to broader social movements. Overarching lessons learned about advancing equity in MCH were identified including: the need to focus explicitly on racial equity, the imperative of shifting the time horizon for change, and the importance of identifying sustainable funding mechanisms. CONCLUSION: A complex initiative such as BBZ is relatively nascent in the field of Maternal and Child Health. However it represents an innovative approach to building community power and fostering strategic organizational partnerships in service of addressing root causes of racial inequities in birth outcomes. The lessons learned and opportunities identified by BBZ can serve as a foundation from which to build other programs and initiatives to advance racial justice. SN - 1573-6628 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/33242209/Lessons_Learned_from_Implementing_a_Place_Based_Racial_Justice_Centered_Approach_to_Health_Equity_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -