1. +
Community Organizing for Social Support of
the Long Beach Black Infant Health Program
Melissa Estelle, MPH, CHES

2. +
Background & Significance
 BIH established in 1989, but Black-White disparity in
infant mortality persists
 Model changes to standardize program across the
state and establish evidence of its effectiveness
 Consequences:
 Women who are more than 27 weeks pregnant are
left out
 Resources are not standard across the state so
program delivery will not be standard

3. +
Focus Group Themes
 Outreach locations:
 Transportation
 Social services
 Schools, churches & stores
 Reasons for Enrollment:
 Social support and friendship; be around others in
similar situation
 Familial approach of the staff
 Something just for Black women

4. +
Focus Group Themes
 Facilitators of Enrollment:
 Extra workshops
 Activities for older children
 Employment opportunity
 Barriers to Enrollment:
 Work
 Familial obligations
 Time of sessions

5. +
Community Health Workers
 Offer employment to clients who have successfully
completed BIH program
 Provide positive models and social support for
current clients
 Perform health education and outreach at various
locations
 Churches, hair/nail salons, barber shops
 Local high schools and colleges
 Clinics, social services, and hospitals

6. +
Partnerships
 Purpose: outreach, referrals, resources, and health education
 Black Businesses & Organizations
 Alumni chapters of NPHC sororities
 National Council of Negro Women, Women in NAACP (WIN)
 Mocha Moms, Inc.
 Health providers and other City departments/programs
 University graduate students
 Social work
 Nursing
 Marriage & Family therapy

7. +
#BlackSummer
 Purpose:
 Raise awareness
 Build community
 Celebrate Blackness
 Components:
 Resource fair and in-kind donations
 Family activities
 Health communication campaign through social media
and promotional materials
 Support Black-owned businesses

8. +
Thank you!
estelle@usc.edu
(562)277-2698