For our last challenge, we worked with the Health Disparities Coalition, which is a group of health systems, medical schools, and one non-profit, to tackle different health disparities in Detroit. My team worked on Detroit’s high infant mortality rate, and try to design a solution that can help bring it down. For those unaware, infant mortality is defined as any infant deaths within the first year of their life. Here is a graphic that explains the current state in Detroit.

One of the organizations we worked with was the Women-Inspired Neighborhood Network (WINN), which is a grant-funded program that employs community health workers to connect pregnant women to support systems, resources, and information in their community when they need it. Throughout the challenge, we learned that there are a multitude of stressors that can serve as impediments to a healthy pregnancy, including financial, emotional, educational, housing, and transportation issues, to name a few. During a time where many women can feel alone, and need a stable support network more than ever, these community health workers are there walking them through the process and helping to bridge the relationship with the medical staff.

The (WIN) Network has three objectives and operates in Brightmoor, Southwest, and Osborn:

• Create change for the women in the community
• Improve women’s access to healthcare and other services through collaboration with local healthcare providers
• Spread the word about this program to the broader community

It was great meeting with people who are so passionate about the people they serve. I encourage you to look into ways to can support them, or any friend or family member going through a pregnancy.

Fellow Martha Cavazos and I after our meeting with WINN outside of Matrix Human Services in the Osborn Neighborhood