Background
The Center for Urban Population Health has identified Infant and Maternal Health as one of its three special focus areas. The Center is specifically focusing on the problem of infant mortality and disparities in birth outcomes in Wisconsin. As the Center began collaborating with stakeholders, it became apparent that many of them were working on different levels of this issue, but weren’t always connected with what each other were doing. A comprehensive information source of all of these initiatives could build collaborations and improve communications among these stakeholders.
Purpose
Provide a catalog of initiatives that either directly or indirectly relate to addressing issues around disparities in birth outcomes and infant mortality in general. It is anticipated that such a reference would grow opportunities for joint collaborations in specific areas of common interest and focus.
Future Goals
- Develop and maintain an accurate and up-to-date listing of current Southeastern Wisconsin initiatives (with input from numerous partners).
- Present the data in a searchable and sort-able format such as a web-based database.
- Allow links from other organizations to point to this catalog as a resource.
- Broaden the scope of the catalog to include initiatives across the state of Wisconsin.
Progress
The catalog is available in draft form, and has been disseminated to a few key stakeholders for revisions and updates.
Timeline
The catalog was initially created in August 2007 and has been expanding since then.
Authors
Center for Urban Population Health
- Trina C. Salm Ward, MSW
- Virginia Zerpa-Uriona, MPH
- Natasha Blum, AHEC Intern
- David Frazer, MPH
- Erin Gutowski, Project Assistant
Acknowledgements
Grateful acknowledgement is given to:
- Dianne Jenkins and colleagues at the Department of Health Services for information shared from their Environmental Scan in early 2007
- Natasha Blum, Milwaukee AHEC Community Health Internship Program
- Virginia Zerpa-Uriona, Center Outreach Specialist, for their efforts in updating the database.
Contact Information
Trina C. Salm Ward, MSW
Infant and Maternal Health Research Program Manager
(414) 219-4084 Office
(414) 219-6563 Fax
salmward@wisc.edu
