Background:
Michigan ranks 48th in the nation in African American infant mortality rates (IMR), and within Michigan, Grand Rapids consistently has one of the highest rates in the state. Unintended pregnancy has a close association with prematurity and infant mortality, and has been identified by the Michigan Department of Community Health as the one factor that would have the largest impact on poor pregnancy outcomes. In Michigan, 70% of pregnancies to women on Medicaid are unintended; the rate among African American women is even higher. Focus groups with 185 community residents identified unintended pregnancy as a major concern.
The Infant Health Implementation Team (IHIT) is a coalition of 25 volunteer members from 18 community agencies. In 2006, the IHIT received state funds that were used in part to create a program to engage hard-to-reach African American women in family planning services.


Objectives:
Participants will learn how a community coalition conducted neighborhood outreach to improve utilization of family planning services

Methods:
Train Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and non-traditional leaders in family planning and preconception health.
Utilize CBOs to educate community residents on family planning.
Conduct door-to-door campaigns in urban neighborhoods to educate and refer women of reproductive age to Planned Parenthood in summer/early fall.
Refer-A-Friend Program: Offer $15 gift certificates to first-time enrollees in FP services to cover transportation and child care costs, and offer an additional $15 if they refer a friend, who in turn receives a $15 certificate.


Results:
Members from six local CBOs / grassroots organizations were trained in family planning by Planned Parenthood, and in turn provided family planning education to 140 African American women in groups of 10 - 20.
Over a three-month period, two CBOs blanketed urban neighborhoods door-to-door, making 200 referrals to Planned Parenthood, WIC and support services.
One hundred new clients obtained free family planning services through the Refer-A-Friend program.


Conclusion and implications for practice:
Partnerships with respected community leaders and grassroots organizations, along with stipends to cover transportation and child care costs for women of reproductive age, can be effective means for engaging hard-to-reach women in family planning services.