Sew up the safety net: Aligning key stakeholders to develop core competency training for CHWs working to address infant mortality in Detroit

A 2008 inventory conducted by the Detroit Regional Infant Mortality Reduction Task Force identified over 100 programs in Detroit to address infant mortality and women's health. However, infant mortality continues at alarming rates as many of these programs are underutilized, resulting in a fragmented system of care for women and families. This presentation will demonstrate how key stakeholders of the Task Force's Sew Up the Safety Net for Women and Children (SUSN) program collaborated to develop a training for community health workers (Community and Neighborhood Navigators (CNNs)) whose goal is to connect women to health care and community-level resources aimed at improving the conditions that lead to infant survival. A multi-disciplinary team consisting of academia, community-based organizations, public health departments and four competing health systems developed training tailored for the community health workers/CNNs. This team identified core competencies needed for addressing the social determinants of health, mentoring and fostering change in attitudes toward healthy lifestyles before women become pregnant or present with poor pregnancy outcomes. This presentation will also demonstrate a sustainable platform to build the capacity to adapt this model, creating a cadre of navigators dedicated to linking communities with systems of care and social service agencies. To date, Sew Up the Safety Net for Women and Children trained seventeen and hired six CNNs. They diligently work to provide resources, and resource connections, to more than 800 women of whom 135 pregnant women receive ongoing one-on-one mentoring, education, and support to address their needs.