Baltimore Healthy Start Inc. 2018-2019 Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019

DEAR PARTNERS & FRIENDS,

BOARD BOARD PRESIDENT: Dorothy Reed, MBA, Chair

Here we stand, Baltimore Healthy Start,Inc., supporting families and preventing the

BOARD MEMBERS:

deaths of Baltimore babies.

Robert Oliver Atlas, MD Bridget Blount, MA

This past year, like the nation, Baltimore Healthy Start (BHS) has invested more

Alex Blum, MD, MPH

resources to ensure that our moms are

Angela Burden, MA, BSN, RN

healthy prior to, during and after birth. We

Francine J, Childs, BS (Baltimore City Health Department Designee)

increased maternal monitoring through additional blood pressure, diabetes and BMI

Sherrice Davis

checks during home visits. By working with Delegate Jeanelle Wilkins, BHS secured

Mary Sue Welcome, Esquire

a seat on the newly created grassroots Maryland Maternal Mortality Review (MMR)

FINANCIALS

Committee. Representation on the MMR increases our knowledge base regarding the reasons for maternal deaths and health issues. This enables us to better increased controls for maternal health with our new Maternal Health Monitoring

Total Revenue and Support $2,312,429

Intervention. We know that from healthy moms come healthy babies.

74.8% Federal Funds

Growth is the best way to describe this past year at Baltimore Healthy Start!

22.9% State, Local and Other Grants

plan for prevention. We are also augmenting our home visiting protocols to add

Noteworthy this year are:

1.4% Contributions and Gifts

• More Diversified Funding

.6% Fundraising/Donations

• More Father Involvement

.2% In Kind Services

• Intensified Focus on Maternal Health

.1% Other Income

• Donor Open House and Appreciation • Renewal of Federal HRSA Funding Through 2024 • Named a Breastfeeding Friendly Site by Maryland Breastfeeding Coalition During 2018, Baltimore Healthy Start served over 1,000 Baltimoreans with 3,528 home visits and other supportive services.

Our Families, Funders, Partners and Donors all contribute to our success.

We couldn’t get the mission accomplished without you! The Leadership Team, Staff and Board appreciate your continued support. We look forward to many more years of service to the families and

22.9%

communities of Baltimore City.

Warm Regards, Lashelle Stewart

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74.8%

1.4% .6% .2% .1%

BHS HOSTS SYMPOSIUM TO SUPPORT HEALTHY FATHERHOOD The free program encourages fathers and fathers-to-be of all ages to focus on their overall health — spiritual, physical and mental — and learn to be better able to engage positively in their children’s lives.

At Baltimore Healthy Start, we believe that our babies are more precious than gold. That’s why, for more than 25 years, we have been committed to reducing infant mortality by improving the health and well-being of mothers and their families by providing comprehensive, supportive services in the communities where they live.

We also know that tending to the needs of a mother and her newborn is not enough to ensure that families start healthy and stay that way. Engaging both parents — especially fathers — must be a priority if we want to continue providing a nurturing, caring home life for every child. In fact, research shows that children benefit directly from a father’s parenting contributions during childhood and are more likely to have higher levels of success later in life.

EMPHASIS ON –TOTAL–

HANDS-ON SUPPORT

That was the motivation behind the “Fatherhood Total Health

Several of our key partners, including Turn Around Tuesday and

Symposium,” a half-day event sponsored by Baltimore Healthy

Healthcare Access Maryland, were on site to provide a range of

Start and held at Morgan State University’s Murphy Fine

information and services to support fathers, and our Certified

Arts Center in October. The goal of the free program was to

Nurse Assistants, Florence Butler and Keyawna Scruggs, were

encourage fathers and fathers-to-be of all ages to focus on

on hand to take blood pressure readings and conduct health

their overall health — spiritual, physical and mental — and learn

screenings.

to be better able to engage positively in their children’s lives.

“Baltimore Healthy Start is proud to sponsor a symposium

A number of prominent leaders took the stage to share their

devoted to addressing such a critical issue as ensuring that

experiences and stories with attendees. Marc Morial, President

men stay healthy and learn to be the best fathers they can be,”

of the National Urban League, delivered the keynote address, a

commented BHS Executive Director Lashelle Stewart, who

personal and powerful message about fatherhood and legacy

was awarded a Certificate of Recognition by the Baltimore City

building. Dr. Carlos Ince, Chief of Cardiology at Saint Agnes

Mayor. “I want to thank everyone who came out in support of

Healthcare, and Richard Rowe, president and founder of the

fatherhood. It was a huge success, and we hope to make this

African American Male Leadership Institute, emphasized the

symposium an annual event.”

importance of mental and physical self-care, and

For more information about Fatherhood Services, contact Derek

Rev. Dr. Stanley Fuller served as Master of Ceremonies.

Lewis, (410) 675-2125, x201.

Baltimore Healthy Start Annual Report | 3

A MOTHER’S STORY:

Tyeshia and Messiah, second from right, along with our Breastfeeding Educator and other Peer Counselors

For Tyeshia, a single mom with an 18 month-old son, Messiah,

Belly Buddies and other classes, Tyeshia, who works full-time

Baltimore Healthy Start is all about relationships. For starters,

at a senior living facility, says she has learned how to share her

she first heard about the organization two years ago when her

experience with others. “I know that having the right support

sister, who was enrolled in the Belly Buddies program, introduced

makes a difference,” she says. “I’m a single mom, and if I had not

Tyeshia to her Neighborhood Health Advocate when she came

been in the program, I probably wouldn’t be able to manage my

for a home visit. Tyeshia signed up for the program and Belly

life as well as I’m managing now.” How well is she doing? For one

Buddies on the spot, and the rest is, well, her-story: “I started

thing, she was recently trained by WIC as a Peer Breastfeeding

going to the program, seeing opportunities that we had, meeting

Counselor and now counsels and supports other Healthy Start

other ladies that were having a baby, and I built relationships with

clients for breastfeeding initiation and continuation. Also, Tyeshia,

them.” She enjoyed the classes so much that she soon began

who has a Bachelor’s in Biology and recently earned a patient care

taking advantage of as many Baltimore Healthy Start resources as

tech, or PCT, certification, says she hopes to be an obstetrician one

she could — including nutrition workshops, breastfeeding classes,

day. “I feel like this [peer counselor role] can help gear me to reach

yoga, and she even learned to crochet. “Turns out I wasn’t good at

my career goal.” Most important, Tyeshia says, Healthy Start has

crochet but it was a nice experience to learn how to do it, and the

made all the difference in her ability to be the best mother she

whole program itself was constructed to be very helpful to me,”

can be for Messiah. “It is a safe place that kinda makes you feel at

she says. In addition to the knowledge she gained by attending

home, like it’s your second family.”

TYESHIA

Tyeshia demonstrating a breast feeding technique.

“It is a safe place that kinda makes you feel at home, like it’s your second family.”

4 | Baltimore Healthy Start Annual Report

“I would say it’s because of Healthy Start that I’m in the place that I’m in now, and I don’t want to know what course my life would have taken without the people who are associated with this program.”

A FATHER’S STORY:

DANIEL

As a father of two, Daniel says he really can’t imagine what his life

on. “Actually, I wanted to be a participant in all those classes,” he

or his family’s life would be like without Baltimore Healthy Start.

admits. “I didn’t even miss one!” He also joined Healthy Start’s

“It would be crazy to try to figure that out,” he says, pointing out

new fatherhood group for advice on and assistance with a range

that, for starters, he now has a good job and is able to feed and

of issues — everything from how to conduct job searches and

support his children — eight-month-old Dallas and six-year-old

interviews, and help with getting a suit and other work apparel,

Dylan — along with their mom, solely because of their relationship

to learning communication skills and ways to build healthy

with the organization. “I would say it’s because of Healthy Start

relationships with his mate and their children. He even attended

that I’m in the place that I’m in now, and I don’t want to know

Baltimore Healthy Start’s “Fatherhood Total Health Symposium,”

what course my life would have taken without the people who are

held in October at Morgan State University, which he says made a

associated with this program.” Further, because he didn’t graduate

big impression in “helping me understand the path that I need to

from high school, Daniel says he’s grateful that Healthy Start has

take to become a better gentleman.” But perhaps more important

helped him continue to learn new things. For example, when his

than the lessons and skills he’s learned, Daniel says, Healthy Start

partner started attending classes and workshops — including Belly

has offered him hope: “It has given me an opportunity to be more

Buddies, breastfeeding education and healthy-eating classes —

optimistic about my future.”

Daniel says he got more than a little curious about what was going Daniel and other fathers with National Urban League President Marc Morial at the Fatherhood Total Health Symposium.

Baltimore Healthy Start Annual Report | 5 3

A YEAR IN REVIEW

Baltimore Healthy Start, Inc. is committed to reducing infant mortality by utilzing a Life Course Perspective for improving the health and well-being of women and their families through the provision of comprehensive, supportive services offered in the communities where they live.

POST PARTUM

DURING PREGNANCY

PRECONCEPTION

19% increase in breast feeding initiation

87.1% of pregnant Healthy Start women reported father involvement during the pregnancy

100% of Healthy Start women had a Reproductive Life Plan

92.1% of participants had health insurance

94.8% of pregnant enrolled women abstained from smoking in their third trimester

1,007 SERVED CLIENTS

3,528 LANDED

HOME VISITS 6 | Baltimore Healthy Start Annual Report

23% increase in post-partum return visits

OUR PARTNERS 2018-2019 We rely on the generosity and guidance of our many wonderful partners across Baltimore, including: CURRENT FUNDERS AND FOUNDATION SUPPORTERS

Baltimore City Infants and Toddlers Program

Baltimore City Health Department

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

B’More for Healthy Babies

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene -Behavioral Health

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Family League of Baltimore Health Resources and Services Administration-Maternal and Child Health Bureau

Baltimore City WIC Program

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene -Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Minority Health & Health Disparities

Maryland Home Visiting Alliance Maryland Women’s Coalition for Health Care Reform Mercy Supportive Housing New Vision House of Hope Oh Taste Lactation Park Heights Community Health Alliance Sisters Together and Reaching

Home Visiting Alliance/Consortium

Enoch Pratt Free Library

Zanvyle and Isabelle Krieger Fund

Judith P. Hoyer Early Child Care and Family Education Centers

St. Jerome’s Head Start

U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development-Baltimore U.S. Office of Minority Health

St. Mary The Virgin Church

March of Dimes Maryland Community Health Resources Commission National Healthy Start Association

MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS Baltimore Medical Systems Bon Secours Baltimore Health System Charm City Clinic Chase Brexton Health Services, Inc. Chrysalis House, Inc. Family Health Centers of Baltimore Hope Health Systems

St. Francis Xavier Head Start St. Mark’s United Church of Christ Tench Tilghman Elementary/ Middle School

HOME VISITING PROGRAMS

ShareBaby

Healthy Start Programs Nationwide Baltimore Medical System

LOCAL BUSINESSES

Bon Secours Baltimore Health System

Glade Creek

DRU/Mondawmin Healthy Families

Hogan Lovells, U.S., LLP

The Family Tree

Omni Elevator Company

Maryland Family Network

ACADEMIC AND NATIONAL PARTNERS

Maternal and Infant Care/Baltimore City Health Department

Baltimore City Community College Epsilon Omega Chapter, AKA

Mercy Medical Center

COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS

Park West Health System

Associated Black Charities

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Sinai Hospital

Black Nurses Association

March of Dimes (Maryland/D.C.)

St. Agnes Hospital

The Bloom Collective

Total Health Care, Inc.

Center for Urban Families

Morgan State University School of Community Health & Policy

Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic

Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning

National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition

Equity Matters

National Healthy Start Association

LifeBridge Health

HEALTH INSURANCE PROVIDERS

Green and Healthy Homes

Amerigroup Maryland

Health Care Access Maryland

Care First Blue Cross/Blue Shield

House of Ruth

Priority Partners

Maryland Food Bank

United HealthCare

Martin Luther King, Jr., Early Head Start

PUBLIC AGENCIES

Maryland Birth Network

Baltimore City Health Department

Maryland Breastfeeding Coalition

Baltimore Healthy Start Annual Report | 7

WHO WE ARE

Established in 1991 as a 501(c) 3 nonprofit corporation by the Baltimore City Health Department to implement the original federal Healthy Start infant mortality reduction initiative, Baltimore Healthy Start, Inc. promotes health and wellness by providing expecting and new mothers and their families with the health care and resources they need to nurture their children.

We believe in community health workers and peer models of improving health.

Our recruiters, most of whom live in the communities they serve, meet women at their doorsteps and enroll them in a program that provides support through all stages of their maternal life: from preconception to pregnancy to postpartum, between pregnancies, and during a child’s first few years of life.

WHAT WE DO

✔ Prevent infant deaths ✔Transform families — emotionally and educationally ✔ Provide local and national leadership regarding social

determinants of health, family resiliency and health

We offer: Two home visiting programs, the Federal Healthy Start Program and Healthy Families America Wellness, services include: family planning (in home or at the center), preventive screenings to identify early pregnancy complications (IPV, smoking etc.), mental health and other health screenings, with appropriate referrals, Belly Buddies, and Sister Circle Family and community engagement, such as transportation to health care appointments and center services; child-care for parents during classes/events at the center; GED classes; a Parent Leadership Group; a store; monthly events and more. Baltimore Healthy Start, Inc. recruits pregnant and postpartum women with a child less than six months old to a Neighborhood Health Advocate or Family Support Worker, a staff member who performs home visits and provides necessary, individualized support to the family until the newborn reaches 24 or 36 months of age (depending on the program).

WHERE WE ARE We work in areas with rates of infant mortality at least 1½ times the U.S. national average and high rates for other adverse perinatal outcomes (e.g., low birthweight, preterm birth, maternal morbidity and mortality) in order to address the needs of high-risk women and their families before, during, and after pregnancy.

We operate out of four locations: • Our full-service community center in East Baltimore, 610 North Chester St. • Forest Park/Walbrook, 2300 Garrison Boulevard • Morrell Park/Violetville, 1805 Wickes Avenue • Total Health Care, 1501 Division St., only for clients of Total Health Care 610 N. Chester St. Baltimore, MD 21205 410-675-2125 (phone) 410-327-6181 (fax) baltimorehealthystart.org