Evaluation of the Triple Crown Project

Project start date and end date: 2023 - 2027

Background:
Detroit has undergone significantly worse health outcomes than state or national averages, especially regarding maternal and infant health outcomes. For example, the infant mortality rate in Detroit is three times higher for Black infants than White infants, while the maternal mortality rate is four times higher for Black mothers than White mothers. The Triple Crown project (Babies Win! Families Thrive! Communities Transformed!) brings together perinatal providers and community organizations in Detroit to address this issue.

Objectives:

• To create policies and infrastructure that promote a seamless integrated perinatal care system
• To expand access to perinatal community-based support services through training and employment support for doulas and breastfeeding peer counselors
• To leverage existing data systems to improve coordination of perinatal health care, including mental health, and ensure seamless access to resources that address a myriad of social determinants of health

Research Topics & Methods:
Our evaluation of the Triple Crown project will document changes in perinatal-focused policies, community-based support service providers and referrals, and connections between project partners. Our evaluation will also examine the impact of the project on perinatal outcomes, such as birth outcomes and breastfeeding rates.

Implications:
An integrated perinatal system that connects perinatal individuals and families to services will improve health outcomes and reduce racial and ethnic disparities for Black birthing people and their families.

Funder:
This project is funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health.

Collaborators:
The Triple Crown project is led by the Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association (BMBFA) and Henry Ford Health. Community partners include Birth Detroit, Brilliant Detroit, Corewell Health, Detroit Health Department, Harambee Care, Molina Healthcare, the Southeast Michigan Perinatal Quality Improvement Coalition, and the United Way of Southeastern Michigan.