State Activities

The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, and in particular the Division of Family Health Services, is concerned that the rate of black infant mortality is more than double the rate for white infants. In 1996, the Department established a Blue Ribbon Panel on Black Infant Mortality Reduction that was charged with developing strategies to more effectively use State resources to reduce black infant mortality rates. The Panel issued their report in September of 1997 and in 1998 the Department convened a Black Infant Mortality Reduction Advisory Council to assist in the implementation of strategies to address this most critical issue. The Advisory Council focused their deliberations on three areas:

Education and awareness
Cultural competency
Programs and services

In May of 1999, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services launched a 2-year, $1 million public awareness campaign - Black Infants Better Survival (BIBS) - making New Jersey the first state in the nation to spearhead a major communications effort targeted at black infant mortality.

While the first goal of the campaign was to raise awareness, it also included a critical public health component - helping black women of child-bearing age and their infants receive the health care they need - before, during and after delivery.

Campaign Chronicle In June 2001, the second anniversary of the BIBS campaign to reduce black infant mortality was marked by a special conference of those involved with the campaign from its inception and by publication of the BIBS Campaign Chronicle (PDF 1.2mb). The Chronicle contains a complete history of efforts by the Department of Health and Senior Services and other interested parties to address the issue of black infant mortality: a chronology of events beginning in 1994, activities leading up to and stemming from the campaign, advertising and public relations strategies, public relations events, media placement, community education, the Black Infant Mortality Reduction Resource Center, BIBS partnership grants, and reproductions of advertisements and articles about the BIBS campaign in statewide and national media.

The DHSS/Reproductive Perinatal Health Services has issued health service grants to 6 agencies to support black infant mortality activities. These activities support promotion of health care provider’s awareness of the disparity in black and white infant mortality rates and comprehensive health care services staffed with culturally sensitive providers.

The Black Infant Mortality Reduction Projects are:

Central New Jersey Maternal and Child Health Consortium
www.cnjmchc.org

“Central New Jersey Network for Healthy Babies: Beyond Diversity” Program

This project provides outreach services for pregnant black women in each of the targeted cites of Perth Amboy, Plainfield, Trenton and the greater New Brunswick area for care management and ongoing supportive services during pregnancy and up to 12 months postpartum. They also conduct health advocacy training within the community and maintain 3 county-based mother’s support groups for professional black women throughout the Central Jersey region.

Hudson Perinatal Consortium
www.hudsonperinatal.org

Hudson Perinatal Consortium BIMR Program

The mission is to decrease death rates among infants of African descent through education, support and guidance to pregnant women, health policy advocacy, and by promoting health disparity agendas that focus and target the many areas that greatly affect black infant mortality reduction.

Newark Department of Health and Human Services
www.ci.newark.nj.us

“It’s a Family Affair” Program

This project provides prenatal and postnatal healthcare and social service support as well as educational programs to black mothers, their infants and families in the Newark area.

Northern New Jersey Maternal Child Health Consortium
www.maternalchildhealth.org

Black Infant Mortality Resource Center

Activities include responding to calls from professionals, community-based organization and the general public provides consultation to various states regarding NJ’s efforts to address black infant mortality provide presentations on BIMR at various events throughout the state and provides technical assistance to the UMDNJ Institute for Elimination of Health Disparities.

P.E.T.A.L.S. Program

“Providing Education Through Advocacy and Learning Strategies”
This project focuses on the health education needs of black women seeking prenatal care and those who are parents of NICU graduates in the Northern NJ MCHC region.

Regional Perinatal Consortium of Monmouth and Ocean Counties
www.rpcmoc.org

“Why My Baby” Program

This project provides comprehensive education, social support, culturally competent case managements. These services focus on black women in an effort to close the gaps in education, healthcare services, and social services provision that currently exist in this region.

Southern New Jersey Family Medical Center
www.sjfmc.org

Southern NJ Family Medical Center BIMR Program

This project provides a full gamut of primary health and social services, case management, health education and social services to black pregnant women and their infants.