In June 2018, recognizing the continued statewide gap in rates of infant mortality when comparing Black infants to other racial groups, the Governor signed legislation establishing the California Perinatal Equity Initiative (PEI) within the California Department of Public Health. While significant declines in infant mortality have been achieved, the rate of mortality among Black infants continues to be two to four times higher than the rates for other groups statewide.
PEI Interventions
The establishment of PEI aims to address the causes of persistent inequality in birth outcomes and to identify best practices to eliminate disparities in infant mortality. PEI supports and promotes the implementation of specific interventions designed to complement current programming offered through the
Black Infant Health (BIH) Group Model and that have shown evidence-based or evidence-informed promise in reducing racial health disparities in birth outcome among Black women.
The legislation provides funding to 11 county health departments to fund community based organizations who will in turn implement at least two of five legislated intervention categories Each LHJ will implement at least two of the five interventions during the PEI funding cycle.
The five legislated intervention categories are:
- Evidence-based or evidence-informed group prenatal care
- Pregnancy intentionality, preconception, and interconception care
- Fatherhood or partnership initiatives
- Evidence-based or evidence-informed home visitation programs (inclusive of case management)
- Other (a strategy not identified above, but based on local needs and resources such as the inclusion of mental health and/or other wrap around services including but not limited to assessment, personalized case management, doulas, patient navigator, access to evidence-based interventions that reduce preterm birth and infant mortality, etc.)
Community Engagement Meetings
As a first step toward implementing the PEI, Community Engagement Meetings were held to obtain and gain perspective from our county partners on their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that affect the quality of health for African-American women and infants.
These Community Engagement Meetings allowed the State to hear directly from community partners, and included participation from local Black Infant Health programs, local home visiting programs from BIH communities, social service programs; and other relevant local community groups and interested stakeholders.
Where We Are
Each participating PEI site is required to maintain a Community Advisory Board as well as to develop a public awareness campaign about their intervention efforts. For further information about PEI activities, please visit the county websites.
PEI programs operate in the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Los Angeles, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, Santa Clara.
Questions regarding the PEI? Contact Us:
Call the MCAH Division at (866) 241ā0395
Physical address:
Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Division
1615 Capitol Ave, Suite 73.560
Sacramento, CA 95814
Mailing address:
Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Division
PO Box 997420, MS 8300
Sacramento, CA 95899-7420
Fax: (916) 650-0305
Email:
perinatalequityinitiative@cdph.ca.gov