TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary agreements, and any subsequent amendments, between the City of Long Beach and the State of California Department of Public Health, in an amount not to exceed $682,189 for the period of July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016, to continue the Maternal, Child, Adolescent (MCAH) and Black Infant Health (BIH) Programs to implement program activities that promote healthy pregnancy and birth outcomes among low-income individuals and families. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Local public health jurisdictions receive block grants from the State of California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to ensure access to quality health care services for pregnant women and children; provide linkages to preventive and primary care services for children and youth; and deliver family-centered, community-based comprehensive health education to address community concerns.
The Black Infant Health (BIH) program seeks to reduce maternal and infant health disparities affecting African-American women and babies. African-American babies are twice as likely to be born with a low birth weight (less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces) than infants of other racial or ethnic groups, and African-American babies are more than 1.5 times more likely to be born prematurely than white babies. Also, African-American women are four times more likely to experience life-threatening health complications from pregnancy than white women.
Each year, over 500,000 women give birth in California. Although most pregnancies are healthy, many women and infants face challenges in reaching optimal health. Rates of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality have steadily improved in Long Beach over the last 10 years. The MCAH and BIH programs are critical public health programs that contribute to positive health outcomes for women, infants and children.
The MCAH and BIH programs provide over 3,000 client contacts per year. Services provided during...
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