Changing Paradigms in Maternal and Child Health:

Alameda County Best Babies Zone

Building Blocks CollaborativeSeptember 28, 2012

Best Babies Zone What We’ll Do Today

• What’s the scoop on the national project?• What’s the scoop here? – What’s the zone?– How was it selected?

• What’s the neighborhood like?• What’s coming up?• Planning activity

National Overview

BBZ Vision and Mission• All babies are born healthy, into communities that enable them

to thrive and reach their full potential

• To give every baby born in a Best Babies Zone the best chance in life

Multi-level: not only individuals – but families, communities, systems and policy.

Several different domains: not only health services – but educational, economic, and community development.

Life-course: not only disease prevention – but health promotion and optimization over the life course, with strategic investments in sensitive periods.

BBZ Approach

Lead: UC BerkeleyNational Organizations: CityMatCH, Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, Healthy StartLocal Sites: Oakland, Cincinnati, New Orleans, Milwaukee

Oakland Best Babies Zone!

Community Need

Existing Community Momentum

BBC Partner’s Expertise

BBC Projects

Castlemont Neighborhood

Community Need

Existing Community Momentum

BBC Partner’s Expertise

BBC Projects

Demographic IndicatorsArea Population BirthsCastlemont 4,675 101Oakland 389,803 5,595Alameda County 1,510,271 19,286

Source: Census 2010, Alameda County Birth File 2010 & 2009-10

Birth Outcomes IndicatorsArea

% Low Birth % EarlyWeight Babies % Prematurity Prenatal Care

Castlemont 11% 12% 83%Oakland 8% 9% 87%Alameda County 7% 9% 88%Source: Alameda County Birth File 2006-10

Social and Economic IndicatorsArea % Single Parent

% Children Poverty

% Pop <200% Poverty

Castlemont 59% 35% 55%Oakland 46% 19% 40%Alameda County 31% 14% 26%

Source: American Community Survey, 2006-2010

Housing and Education Indicators

Area % Vacant housing

% paying

% Less Than High School Education

35% or more of household income

in rent Castlemont 18% 59% 41%Oakland 11% 46% 21%

Alameda County 8% 42% 14%Source: American Community Survey, 2006-2010

Community Need

Existing Community Momentum

BBC Partner’s Expertise

BBC Projects

Existing Momentum

Neighborhood Profile

Where do we begin?

Phase 1

• Needs assessment• Community engagement• Develop organizational structure

Future Activities

Best Babies Zone

Fail early fail often

What can we achieve together?