Transcript Forgotten Families: Addressing the needs of parents

Dannai Harriel, Perinatal Systems Liaison
Healthy Start, Inc.
CityMAtch Conference Denver, CO
August 25-28, 2007
To focus primarily on the reduction of infant mortality and low birth
weight babies in Southwestern PA in such a way as to make
valuable use of its resources, preserve its flexibility and continue to
offer seamless services with the intent of improving the quality of
life of infants, toddlers, youths, siblings, parents and grandparents
and the community.
The Healthy Start program was launched in 1991 by the
Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA) of the U. S. Public Health Service
To demonstrate innovative ways to
reduce infant mortality in some of
the areas with the highest infant
mortality rate in the country
1.
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Healthy Start Pittsburgh/Allegheny County has been
committed from its inception to make this project truly
community-driven.
As assessments drawn from community forums and focus
groups confirmed, significant improvement in infant
mortality rates will require more than a medical model; it
will require attitudinal change and commitment on the part
of an entire community.
To achieve such commitment to change requires sustained
and cooperative involvement of the community in both
planning and implementation.
1.
To identify rising population of
young poor women, particularly
African-American mothers with
high rates of incarceration.
2.
To describe barriers to women’s
successful community reintegration.
3.
To identify the MCH impact of
homelessness and poor health
outcomes
4.
To identify a model of collaboration
for the justice system, housing,
substance prevention and treatment,
and MCH to serve families impacted
by incarceration
1. Between 1990 and 1997, the female incarceration rate nearly doubled,
increasing from 31 to 57 women in prison per 100,000 female residents.
2. Racial disparities among incarcerated women are pronounced: black
women were more than 8x times as likely as white to be in prison in 1997.
3. Although women accounted for only 6.5 percent of the total state and
federal prison population at midyear 1999, the rate of incarceration of
women has been growing 2x as fast as that of men over the last two
decades.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics Correctional Surveys (The National Probation Data Survey, National
Prisoner Statistics, Survey of Jails, and The National Parole Data Survey) as presented in Correctional
Populations in the United States, 1997.
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In 2002, 4,677 women were incarcerated in the
Allegheny County Jail. (80% were single, 20% married,
2,041 Caucasian, 2, 532 African-American)
Between 1991-2002, female imprisonment increased by
79%
75% of female inmates are mothers, and nearly all have
minor children.
7,000 children from every school district in Allegheny
County have an incarcerated parent (Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation)
In 2004, the Allegheny County Jail housed 150 pregnant
women.
oBetween 1990 and 1997, the number of women serving
time in prison for drug offenses nearly doubled,
compared to a 48 percent increase in the number of men
in prison for drug offenses.
oBetween 1986 and 1996, the number of women
incarcerated on drug charges rose by 888 percent,
compared to a rise of 129 percent for non-drug offenses.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics Correctional Surveys (The National Probation Data Survey, National Prisoner
Statistics, Survey of Jails, and The National Parole Data Survey) as presented in Correctional Populations in the
United States, 1997.
o
At year end 2005, over 4.9 million adult men and women
were under Federal, State, or local probation or parole
jurisdiction; approximately 4,162,500 on probation and
784,400 on parole.
o
Women made up about 23% of the nation's probationers
and 12% of the parolees.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics Correctional Surveys (The National Probation Data Survey, National Prisoner
Statistics, Survey of Jails, and The National Parole Data Survey) as presented in Correctional Populations in the
United States, 1997.
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Custody/Children
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Education
o
Housing
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Employment
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Mental Health
According to the nonprofit
Sentencing Project, Hispanic
women are incarcerated at
nearly twice the rate of white
females and black women at
four times the rate.
“The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation
Act of 1996"
o
Among these provisions is one that prevents those convicted of drug
felonies from ever qualifying for welfare benefits upon their release. For
mothers, the denial of food stamps and access to public housing greatly
limits the possibility of family reunification.
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Housing
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Criminal Records
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Expungement/Pardons
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Employment
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Grandparent rights
At Healthy Start, Inc., Pittsburgh/Allegheny County
& Fayette County the Board of Directors and the
Consortia actively enhance the reduction of infant
mortality through a holistic program of individual
and neighborhood empowerment that promises to
improve the quality of life for residents of all ages.
Community Model
Board of Directors
Healthy Start Consortium
FCHIP
Healthy Start Central
Management
Service Area Composition
3
Housing
Consumers
3
Consumers
4
Youths
2
Neighborhood
Organizations
2
Local Businesses
North Side
Regional
Consortium
Center City
Regional
Consortium
Perinatal Task Force
2
Religious Leaders
East End
Regional
Consortium
2
Government
Representatives
5
Human Service
Providers
South Side
Regional
Consortium
West End
Regional
Consortium
Duquesne/
Braddock
Regional
Consortium
o
Healthy Start initiated non-traditional
collaborations with the following:
Elected Officials
Public/Private Agencies
State/Local Government
Community-Based Providers
Community Advocates
to host (3) conferences that educated the community
about reintegration and the consequences it imposes on
parents and their children.
At Healthy Start, Inc., Pittsburgh/Allegheny County
& Fayette County the Board of Directors and the
Consortia actively enhance the reduction of infant
mortality through a holistic program of individual
and neighborhood empowerment that promises to
improve the quality of life for residents of all ages.
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Allegheny County Clerk of
Courts
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Allegheny County District
Attorney’s Office
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Allegheny County Courts
◦ Family Division Judge
◦ Juvenile Division Judge
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Renewal, Inc.: (Agency for the reintegration of exoffenders)
Healthy Start, Inc. Consortia (Volunteers)
Healthy Start, Inc. Male Initiative Program
Local Father’s Collaborative Initiatives
City of Pittsburgh Housing Authority
Allegheny County Public Housing Authority
Lavelle Real Estate (Private Housing)
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A resource manual was
developed for ex-offenders.
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Nutritional supplements for
lunch were sponsored by local
legislators
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Program service referral
networks were enhanced and
expanded to reach more
families.
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Community involvement is
essential
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Community ownership requires
provider awareness and sensitivity
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Communities can empower each
other through advocacy and
education
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Providers and community leaders
can co-exist and share experiences
and challenges to addressing
maternal child health issues
For more information about us,
call the Healthy Start Helplines at:
(412) 247-1000
or
(724) 425-1799
or
visit our website at:
www.healthystartpittsburgh.org
Healthy Start, Inc. is supported in part by project No. CFDA #93.926E from the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child
Health Bureau (Title V, Social Security Act)