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
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?
