The Link Between Black Women's Health and Infant Mortality Orlando, FL January 12, 2006 The Birth Place, a unique birthing center and midwifery practice, today announced Our Black Babies Are DYING! a conference focused on the state of black women's health in Florida. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the event is being held Saturday January 14th 2006 at the Holy Trinity Reception and Conference Center (1217 Trinity Woods Lane, Maitland). The purpose of this event is to raise awareness of the infant mortality rate among black women in Florida.

The continued, dire state of Black infant mortality and poor perinatal outcomes is of grave concern to health care practitioners and providers, as well as to the public at large, said Ms. Jennie Joseph, clinical director of The Birth Place and organizer of the conference. The more women know, the more they are able to help themselves and this conference is designed with them in mind.

This forum will offer a networking opportunity second to none in order for the continuation and proliferation of life-saving projects and programs in Florida. The all-day conference is being sponsored by Joseph's Nubian Health Network and the Orange County Healthy Start Coalition.

The CIA World Fact Book estimates infant mortality rates at 6.5 per 1,000 live births for 2005. Sadly rates for African American babies are two to three times more in Florida as well as nationally. The 2004 statistics for the state reveal an infant mortality rate of 5.8 per 1000 live births for white babies and 11.5 per thousand for non-white, with a fetal death rate of 6.0 for white and 12.6 for non-white*.

Infant Mortality Rates in Florida

Click below to view a graph of the 2004 statistics

graph

According to the data from the Perinatal Periods of Risk (PPOR)** study, it is now clear that the state of women's health before conception directly impacts infant mortality rates.

The Orange County Health Department in collaboration with the Orange County Healthy Start Coalition began participating in the PPOR study in 2002. This study was designed to determine and rank contributing factors to fetal-infant mortality based on four strategic prevention areas: maternal health/prematurity, maternal care, newborn care, and infant health. The study determined that the highest infant mortality was in the maternal health cell and therefore intervention strategies needed to be designed to promote the health of women prior to and between pregnancies.

The one-day conference and networking forum will feature discussions, health workshops, best practices and a powerful documentary on the history of Black Midwifery in America called \u2018Bringin' In Da Spirit'. Twelve local women who have already contributed to the ongoing battle to reduce racial disparities will be honored at the event. All women, especially minority women and medical professionals are encouraged to attend this event. While the event is free, donations are requested and will benefit Joseph's non-profit corporation Commonsense Childbirth Inc. which provides prenatal care for uninsured women at The Birth Place.

Our Black Babies Are Dying!

• 8:30 Registration / Continental Breakfast
• 9:00-9:20 Welcome Address Our Black Babies Are Dying! The Link Between Black Women's Health and The State of Infant Mortality in Florida - Jennie Joseph, clinical director of The Birth Place
• 9:20-9:50 Orange County Healthy Start Save Our Babies Program Making a Difference in Our Community Shaleana Eubanks Worlds with Orange County Health Start Coalition
• 10:00-11:30 Speak out Sistahs Women's Health Issues Forum Open Mike: barriers to care, problem areas, personal stories, ideas, ongoing programs and solutions Moderated by Jennie Joseph and Dr. Marie Francois, of the Center for Multicultural Wellness and Prevention
• 11:30-12:00 Nubian Health Network and Orange County Healthy Start presents: nominee recognition and awards ceremony
• 12:001:30 Lunch On Your Own
• 30-2:30 Bringin' In Da Spirit Narrated by Phylicia Rashad, a documentary by independent film maker Rhonda Haynes which chronicles the history of Black midwives and their contributions to their community and the health of the society at large.
• 2:30-2:50 Open Discussion - Applying the Midwives Model of Care to all areas of community healthcare
• 3:003:50 Practical Steps to Closing The Gap: Realistically addressing our areas of concern and what we can do as individuals Jennie Joseph
• 4:00-4:30 Join in an African Dance Session First World Drummers and Dancers
• 4:30-4:55 Final Networking Forum with refreshments
• 4:55-5:00 Closing Circle

To sign up to attend the event, call 407 654 9900 or register online at www.nubianhealthnetwork.org. For more details email jennie@nubianhealthnetwork.org.

About The Birth Place

The Birth Place Birthing Center's mission is to provide a service to the local Orlando area community by offering quality maternity care for women, with a focus on family involvement. As Clinical Director of The Birth Place (http://www.thebirthplace.org/) in Winter Garden, Florida, Ms. Jennie Joseph sees women from all walks of life that are expecting healthy babies and who choose a natural birth. She received her midwifery education from Barnet School of Nursing and Midwifery in affiliation with Edgware General Hospital in London, England. Always a pioneer for women's special healthcare needs, Ms. Joseph has ten years of busy hospital experience and has specialized in out-of-hospital birthing for the past 15. Ms. Joseph brings 25 years of combined expertise to help pregnant women achieve the birth of their dreams.

In addition to her clinic, Ms. Joseph launched the Nubian Health Network (www.nubianhealthnetwork.org) in order to address and redress the disparities in health care being experienced by women of African descent. Nubian Health Network is the source for all women's health information needs and its mission is to provide accurate, pertinent and current health education, referrals and resources and to re-build positive community connections through sharing.

About the Orange County Healthy Start Coalition

Orange County Healthy Start Coalition (www.healthystartorange.org) is a non-profit organization, working as a public-private partnership, to better serve resident Orange County pregnant women, infants, and their families. By assessing the needs of the community, the coalition is able to ensure that services are available to promote and protect the health and well being of infants and pregnant women. The Coalition continually gathers and analyzes data on area maternal/child health indicators to focus efforts. Further, it develops intervention programs that address the needs of a diverse local population. As part of the statewide program, OCHSC develops plans for service delivery, monitors the systems of care and allocates maternal and child healthcare dollars.

* Florida Health Stats website at www.floridahealthstats.com and www.floridacharts.com ** The study is a joint initiative of CityMatCH at the University Of Nebraska Medical Center, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The National March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, and the Health Resources and Services Administration/Maternal and Child Health Bureau. www.citymatch.org


For Press Inquiries Contact:
Jan Jahosky Tel: .407-331-4699
Email: jan@jahosky.com