Next Door Foundation, in collaboration with Penfield Children’s Center, received a grant to improve health for Black families with children under the age of one in Milwaukee through maternal care and support. This project aims to strengthen access to post-partum maternal care and address infant needs through community-based activities, increase knowledge of the social determinants of health, inform about risk factors associated with premature births and infant mortality and provide information related to prevention and early intervention strategies in Milwaukee.
The Challenge
Black infants in Wisconsin face staggering health disparities, with mortality rates three times higher than those of white infants. In Milwaukee, this disparity is even more pronounced as the city has the highest black infant mortality rate in the nation. Premature births account for approximately 66% of Black infant deaths and unsafe sleep practices contribute to about 15 percent. Between 2015 and 2017, Milwaukee saw a troubling increase in infant deaths, peaking at 120 in 2017 – highest since 2008. These losses are deeply tied to social determinants of health, systemic racism and barriers to care that create chronic stress and limit access to quality prenatal and postnatal support.
Project Goals
Through a collaborative partnership, Next Door and Penfield Children’s Center aimed to reduce Black infant mortality in Milwaukee by engaging more than 100 Black women and their infants in evidence-informed activities. Project goals included:
Training and coaching Penfield Children’s Center Family Engagement Specialist (FES).
Providing direct support to families.
Providing access to parenting curriculum to 90 Black parents enrolled at Penfield Children’s Center.
Providing parents with relevant information through home visits and other means.
Convening a parent committee to select and evaluate activities and curriculum.
Results
As a result of this award, Next Door Foundation partnered with Penfield Children’s Center through June 2024 to expand support for at-risk Black infants, children and families in Milwaukee. Guided by Next Door’s expertise, Penfield Children’s Center became a new Head Start agency, increasing access to high-quality early learning and family support services. The partnership strengthened opportunities for parent education, staff training and professional development across multiple community partners, including COA Riverwest, Malaika and Next Door’s Capitol and 29th Street locations.
During the grant period, Next Door provided intentional programming tailored to the needs of Black mothers, infants and toddlers, resulting in stronger community partnerships and sustainable training opportunities for staff. Achievements include building partnerships with Early Education Centers that align goals, share resources and avoid duplication of services. The Positive Solutions for Families curriculum was successfully offered to parents from multiple partner sites, with participants graduating and sharing testimonials on how the training improved their parenting approaches. In August 2024, five staff members earned the Family Development Credential, equipping them with case management, family coaching and strengths-based engagement skills. Two staff members also completed Positive Solutions training in preparation for the 2024-2025 program year.
Lasting Impact
Even after WPP funding and Penfield partnership ended, Next Door continues to serve African American mothers and infants through individualized family engagement, home visits, family partnership agreements and needs assessments. Ongoing parent meetings and policy council sessions are providing families with decision-making opportunities on activities, curricula and programming.
