On July 25, multiple departments of Sacramento County presented the annual report on the Black Child Legacy Campaign to the Board of Supervisors. The report highlights the progress made over the past five years in reducing child deaths and improving safety and well-being for Black/African American children and their families.
In 2011, the Board of Supervisors received a troubling report from the Child Death Review Team, revealing that Sacramento County's African American children were dying at twice, and sometimes closer to three times the rate of other races and ethnicities for over two decades. As a then-freshman County Supervisor, Phil Serna convened the Blue Ribbon Commission on Disproportionate African American Child Deaths as part of a community-driven movement to save young lives.
“This is one of those determined efforts to address arguably the most important thing in our community – which is the welfare of our children and the lives of our children, and we are making progress," says Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna.
The fight against disproportionate child deaths has been a collaborative effort, bringing together various departments and organizations. Key partners in the effort include Sacramento County's Department of Child, Family, and Adult Services, Sacramento County's Department of Human Assistance, Sacramento County's Probation Department, Sacramento County's Health Services Department, First 5 Sacramento Commission (Chaired by Supervisor Serna), and Sierra Health Foundation.
“We are really proud of the relationships we have built across public and private organizations and with the families that we collectively serve together. It takes a whole village to raise a child and here in Sacramento, we continue to strengthen that village for our kids and their families," says Director of Sacramento County's Department of Child, Family and Adult Services Michelle Callejas.
As a partner in this effort since 2011, the First 5 Sacramento Commission has been funding education campaigns and direct services for the last decade. The Commission's Black Mother's United (BMU) program, operated through Her Health First, provides people with one-on-one peer support education and service navigation. The data indicates that there were zero infant deaths at program exit for the third year in a row; among 137 BMU babies born in 2019, the BMU infant mortality rate was 0.0 per 1,000. The Sierra Health Foundation and Community Incubator Leads have also played a crucial role in the Black Child Legacy Campaign, by providing and coordinating infrastructure for culturally responsive services and operating community-based neighborhood hubs to meet families' needs and improve access to services. With a focus on all four leading causes of disproportionate death, the Community Incubator Leads' efforts have made a lasting impact on the communities and the thousands of families they serve.
The Black Child Legacy Campaign report looks at the challenges, solutions, successes, and critically where more must be done to improve the lives of Black/African American children and their families.
The Challenges:
The Black Child Legacy Campaign has identified four leading causes of African American child deaths: perinatal conditions, infant sleep-related deaths, child abuse and neglect homicides, and third-party homicides. These four leading causes of death represent the most profound disparities between Black/African American children and other groups.
Community-Driven Solutions:
Since 2013, the Steering Committee on Reduction of African American Child Deaths has guided cross-sector, government, and community-based prevention strategies. The campaign's key initiatives have included: increasing public awareness, providing trauma-informed services and supports, empowering community members, advocating for and making policy changes, and utilizing data-driven decision-making. Seven neighborhoods in Sacramento County have been identified as having the highest numbers of African American child deaths. The Black Child Legacy Campaign has put a Community Incubator Lead (CIL) organization in each of those neighborhoods. The CILs provide crisis intervention, connect families to needed resources and provide prevention and early intervention services to reduce African American child deaths. Due to the success of the CILs, the Steering Committee is using data to select an eighth neighborhood to establish a new Community Incubator Lead.
The Success:
The Black Child Legacy Campaign met three of its goals in reducing African American child deaths. Infant sleep-related deaths were reduced by 54%.
DCFAS uses an innovative Cultural Broker Program that utilizes trained community liaisons to help families understand, navigate, and advocate in the Child Protective Services system. Of the 397 families that were assigned a Cultural Broker, 97% of the closed cases achieved a positive outcome, including family reunification (44%), avoiding court intervention (25%), and adoption or guardianship (28%).
The Black Child Legacy Campaign also reports that there has been a precipitous decrease in child abuse and neglect deaths. Deaths caused by child abuse and neglect among children ages 0 to 5 years old were reduced by 85%.
Following the Black Child Legacy Campaign Report, several people who are involved in the organization or have benefited from its services had the chance to talk about what the campaign means to them and the impact of the reduction in numbers.
“Let's continue this and keep this going strong because we are making an impact. We are getting the work done. The numbers are dropping, and families are being served. They are being connected to resources and I believe we are on the right path and let's keep it up," one Black Child Legacy worker told the Board of Supervisors.
The Black Child Legacy Report showcases the ongoing commitment, investment, and achievements made in the fight to reduce African American child deaths. Sacramento County, Sierra Health Foundation, the Community Incubator Leads, and all community partners involved in the Black Child Legacy Campaign are making strides toward creating a safer, more equitable community.
“This is not just about government, this isn't just about nonprofits doing good work but it's the community itself and doing the work and being accountable and relishing the successes but making sure we continue to do all that is necessary to save our children," says Supervisor Serna.
If you are interested in becoming involved with or learning more about the Black Child Legacy Campaign, connect with your Community Incubator Lead, join the Community Leadership Roundtable or Steering Committee, or become a communication vendor.