Babies in San Francisco Are Dying At Alarming Rates
September 20, 2009
BABIES IN SAN FRANCISCO ARE DYING AT ALARMING RATES!!
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The Elimination of State Funding for the
San Francisco Black Infant Health (BIH) Program is Unacceptable
BIH Is More than Education and Social Support- Black Infant Health SAVES Lives! |
Why We Exist: Black babies in San Francisco die at nearly triple the rate of the general population in the first year of life.
In San Francisco, African Americans account for 6.7% of resident births, yet make up 22.2% of resident infant deaths. This glaring disparity is an indicator that the quality of life for African Americans in San Francisco is below the rest of the population. Infants die because they are born too soon and too small. When infants die or are chronically ill due to premature birth, it becomes a cost burden to local and state government because the majority of women and infants impacted rely on Medi-Cal, Black Infant Health program funds, and the San Francisco Department of Public Health safety net.
San Francisco Resident Births*
Total Resident Births = 8,609
In San Francisco, African Americans account for 6.7% of resident births, yet make up 22.2% of resident infant deaths. This glaring disparity is an indicator that the quality of life for African Americans in San Francisco is below the rest of the population. Infants die because they are born too soon and too small. When infants die or are chronically ill due to premature birth, it becomes a cost burden to local and state government because the majority of women and infants impacted rely on Medi-Cal, Black Infant Health program funds, and the San Francisco Department of Public Health safety net.
San Francisco Resident Births*
Total Resident Births = 8,609
Ethnicity Infants Death Rates* Fetal Death Rates*
White 3,443 3.1 5.1
Asian 2,726 1.9 3.9
Latino 1,786 3.1 6.9
African- American 641 11.8 16.9
White 3,443 3.1 5.1
Asian 2,726 1.9 3.9
Latino 1,786 3.1 6.9
African- American 641 11.8 16.9
*per 1,000 births
We Save Lives: In S.F. women in the BIH program have better birth outcomes than African American women who do not receive BIH services. The Program provides a culturally relevant safety net to the most high-risk population in our city, by filling in the gaps that traditional health and social systems have failed to do.
BIH Clients: BIH serves pregnant Black women and new mothers who are primarily single, unemployed high school drop-outs and Medi-Cal recipients. The median age of the BIH client is 24. The clients reside in the most high risk (violence, crime, poverty, limited resources) neighborhoods in San Francisco including: Bayview Hunter's Point, Tenderloin, Western Addition, Visitation Valley, Potrero Hill, Ocean Merced Ingleside and South of Market.
What Is At Stake in San Francisco: MORE BABIES WILL DIE! The rates of death and chronic illness for Black babies will increase. With the lack of funding there are no resources available to continue providing this effective, culturally sensitive care management and crisis referral services to a fragile population that has demonstrated difficulty navigating the healthcare system. BIH is the only safety net designed to help poor Black woman navigate the health system in order improve their birth outcomes and increase Black infant survival.
The BIH program prevents costly deaths and chronic illness.
BIH Program leverages a FEDERAL match for every state general fund dollar spent, San Francisco will also lose Federal revenue if local general fund match is not provided.
We Save Lives: In S.F. women in the BIH program have better birth outcomes than African American women who do not receive BIH services. The Program provides a culturally relevant safety net to the most high-risk population in our city, by filling in the gaps that traditional health and social systems have failed to do.
BIH Clients: BIH serves pregnant Black women and new mothers who are primarily single, unemployed high school drop-outs and Medi-Cal recipients. The median age of the BIH client is 24. The clients reside in the most high risk (violence, crime, poverty, limited resources) neighborhoods in San Francisco including: Bayview Hunter's Point, Tenderloin, Western Addition, Visitation Valley, Potrero Hill, Ocean Merced Ingleside and South of Market.
What Is At Stake in San Francisco: MORE BABIES WILL DIE! The rates of death and chronic illness for Black babies will increase. With the lack of funding there are no resources available to continue providing this effective, culturally sensitive care management and crisis referral services to a fragile population that has demonstrated difficulty navigating the healthcare system. BIH is the only safety net designed to help poor Black woman navigate the health system in order improve their birth outcomes and increase Black infant survival.
The BIH program prevents costly deaths and chronic illness.
BIH Program leverages a FEDERAL match for every state general fund dollar spent, San Francisco will also lose Federal revenue if local general fund match is not provided.
Black Infant HealthProgram Funding Sources
Commentary: The ever-diminishing African American population of San Francisco is being placed further at risk. The lives of African American women, infants and children in San Francisco have been placed in unacceptable jeopardy! This elimination of funds will negatively impact current and future generations... Currently there is no San Francisco City general fund support for the Black Infant Health Program. The City must find funding to support this crucial program
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