C ommitted to Research, Education and Advocacy for Healthy Living

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2 2902 N. Armenia Ave. Suite 100 Tampa, FL Phone ( 813) Fax (813) Board of Directors Patrick Cannon, PhD, Chairperson - Vice President, Wendell Potter Consulting. Lisa Freedman Woodward, MPH, Vice Chair - Founder/Owner, Two Swings Studio, Inc. Jeff Goolsby, CPA, MSA, Treasurer - Shareholder of Moore Stephens Lovelace, PA, Certified Public Accountants. Selena Scott, AA, Secretary - former REACHUP / Central Healthy Start consumer (recipient of services). Jason Wilson, MD, Member - Assistant Professor of Medicine and Associate Research Director at the University of South Florida Emergency Medicine Residency Program; Attending Physician, Tampa General Hospital. Davina Best, BS, Member - Generalist Principal, Human Resources, United States Postal Service, Tampa, FL. Megan Monroe, JD, MA, Member - Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine; a Research & Compliance Officer, USF Health- PaperFree Florida Program. Estrellita Lo Berry, MA, President/CEO - Project Director and Principal Investigator for Central Hillsborough Healthy Start and Closing the Gap Projects; Immediate Past President of the National Healthy Start Association Board of Directors.

3 2902 N. Armenia Ave. Suite 100 Tampa, FL Phone ( 813) Fax (813) History In 2003 the Central Hillsborough (Federal) Healthy Start (CHHS) Program leadership, staff and key community stakeholders participated in two community summits that led to an endorsement of the development of a nonprofit organization. At that juncture, CHHS successfully began the process of transitioning the ownership and governance of the CHHS Project from university-based to community-based via the establishment of REACHUP (Respond, Educate, Advocate, & Collaborate for Health in Underserved Populations). REACHUP, Inc. was officially incorporated in the summer of The organization received its 501c3 non-profit status. The REACHUP Foundation has also received its 501c3 non-profit status. The CHHS Project, now a program of REACHUP, Inc., is poised to move forward to assure that the Community s goal of becoming the primary stakeholder in the Healthy Start Initiative is attained. This necessitated a transition that allowed the university to maintain its role as the director of research and evaluation while the grassroots community takes greater leadership in increasing opportunities and resources to promote and protect the health and well-being of its citizens. The REACHUP/CHHS Program has been strengthened by its close affiliation with the University of South Florida, College of Public Health, The Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center. The Chiles Center was created as a non-profit organization in 1996 with a mission to promote and protect the health of pregnant women, their infants, and young children through research, education and service. Its programs focus on determining the most effective strategies, programs and systems for reducing disparities in illness, disability and death among vulnerable MCH populations. As a community-based 501c3 organization, REACHUP, Inc. will bring many benefits to its service population, in particular, and the Tampa Bay Region, in general. With the increasing capacity to sustain and enhance its current programs, REACHUP, Inc. is poised to expand its current repertoire to include new programs and partners. Additionally, REACHUP stands ready to provide the organizational and fiscal support for a network of community non-profit organizations that complement its vision, mission, goals, core values, and core beliefs.

4 2902 N. Armenia Ave. Suite 100 Tampa, FL Phone ( 813) Fax (813) REACHUP, Inc. HIGHLIGHTS Research & Evaluation The research and evaluation arm of the organization remains at USF, College of Public Health. Dr. Hamisu Salihu serves as Lead Evaluator. Central Hillsborough Healthy Start Program did reduce the level of low birth weight and preterm delivery by about 30% among service recipients as compared to non-recipients (Maternal and Child Health Journal, September 2008). The 2011 CHHS report evaluating project data from indicated that the Infant Mortality Rate IM) in the CHHS catchment area declined from 19.2 in 1998 to 9.4 in The Low Birth Weight Rate (LBW) declined from 16.7 to Infant Mortality Rate/ , Low Birth Weight % Continued on next page

5 Publications Jevitt, C., Zapata, L., Harrington, M. & Berry, E. (2006). Screening for perinatal depression with limited psychiatric resources can be effective. Journal of American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 11(6), doi: / Salihu, H. M., Mbah, A. K., Jeffers, D., Alio, A. P. & Berry, L. (2008). Healthy Start Program and feto-infant morbidity outcomes: Evaluation of program effectiveness. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 13(1), doi /s y Luke, S., Salihu, H. M., Alio, A. P., Mbah, A. K., Jeffers, D., Berry, E. L. & Mishkit, V. R. (2009). Risk factors for major antenatal depression among low-income African American women. Journal of Women s Health, 18 (11), Quinn, G. P., August, E. M., Austin, D., Keefe, C., Bernadotte, C., Scarborough, K., & Jeffers, D. (2009). High risk community men s perceptions of black infant mortality: A qualitative inquiry. American Journal of Men's Health, 3, doi: / Salihu, H., August, E. M., Jeffers, D., Mbah, A. K., Alio, A. P., & Berry, E. L. (2011). Effectiveness of a Federal Healthy Start program in reducing primary and repeat teen pregnancies: Our experience over the decade. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 24 (3), doi: / j.jpag Salihu, H.M., August, E.M., Alio, A.P., Jeffers, D., Austin, D., & Berry, E. (2011). Community-Academic partnerships to reduce black-white disparities in infant mortality in Florida. Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, And Action, 5(1), doi: /cpr Salihu, H.M., August, E.M., Mbah, A.K., Alio, A.P., decuba, R.,2 nd, Jaward, F.M., & Berry, E.L. (2011). Effectiveness of a federal healthy start program in reducing the impact of particulate air pollutants on feto-infant morbidity outcomes. Maternal and Child Health Journal. Advance online publication. doi: /s Alio, A. P., Lewis, A. C., Scarborough, K., Harris, K., & Fiscella, K. (2013). A community perspective on the role of fathers during pregnancy: a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 13(60). DOI: / URL: Continued on next page

6 Community Capacity Building Maternal and Child Health Workforce Development Employees Doulas Case Managers Community Health Nurses Community Outreach Workers Managers Administrators Consultants Mental Health Advocacy and Education Male Involvement Pastoral and Faith Initiative Engagement Community Based Grant Writing and Specialized Technical Assistance Universal Trade Network Math and Science Possibilities Program For the Family Telephone Mentoring Program True Vine Community Church Community Resource Center St. John Progressive Church AMTAGS (Angels Ministering to a Grieving Spirit) Teen Baby Shower By the Grace of God Ministries Math and Science Entrepreneurship Initiative Single Parent Family Foundation East Tampa Job Fair Sunshine Baby SIDS Education program Women of Zion International, Inc. Health Education and Mentoring Program Open Arms Ministries B.E.A.R. Hugs Mentoring Program Building Organizational Capacity Project 100 Black Men of Tampa Bay, Inc. By the Grace of God Ministries Single Parent Family Foundation East Tampa Job Fair Sunshine Baby SIDS Education program Women of Zion International, Inc. Health Education and Mentoring Program Continued on next page

7 Community Engagement And Advocacy Black Infant Health Practice Initiative (BIHPI) Following Florida Department of Health reports indicating that Hillsborough County s Black Infant Mortality rate was 4.4 times higher than the White rate, Senator Arthenia Joyner and Representative Betty Reed sponsored House Bill 1269 in response to the disparity in Black infant deaths in Florida. As a result, section , F.S., was passed at the beginning of the Fiscal Year, with a nonrecurring allocation of $1 million for research and development of to study the problem and generate findings and recommendations to the legislature. Each of eight Florida counties meeting the designated criteria were to conduct research, develop interventions and strategies and develop and sustain a Community Action Team (CAT) designed to reduce and ultimately eliminate these disparities. Florida Team, Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Action Institute (REHDAI) The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) established the Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Action Institute (REHDAI). The Community Health and Program Services Branch (CHAPS) within the Division of Adult and Community Health (DACH) developed and implemented the Institute designed to increase the capacity of local communities to impact health disparities, helping to create health equity through social justice. Florida Health Equity Commission (FHEC), Founding Member As a way to sustain and expand the BIHPI, FHEC s mission is to eliminate social and economic barriers to good health in the state of Florida by supporting and promoting community engagement, capacity building, health-related policy, government involvement, evidencebased practice, and research that highlight and change, when necessary, the connection between health and wellness and socioeconomic status. National Healthy Start Association (NHSA) The NHSA, representing the 105 federal Healthy Start projects around the nation, aims to be an effective advocate in policies and programs that improve the health status of women, infants and families and strengthen the capacity of Healthy Start programs and community-based MCH organizations nationwide.

8 2902 N. Armenia Ave. Suite 100 Tampa, FL Phone ( 813) Fax (813) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT REACHUP, Inc. What is REACHUP? REACHUP is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping Tampa Bay, Florida, communities achieve equality in healthcare and positive health outcomes for all families. It is the lead agency and partner for several grant-funded programs geared to addressing both the behavioral and social and environmental factors that create unnecessary health risks for individuals and entire communities. As its acronym implies, REACHUP s call to action is to Respond, Educate, Advocate, and Collaborate for Health (REACH). What services does REACHUP provide? REACHUP s largest and most well know program, Central Hillsborough Healthy Start (CHHS), provides home visits and Doula (labor coach) services to pregnant women, new mothers, and infants; mental health services; interconception (pregnancy spacing) health education and peer support groups; male involvement mentoring activities; and transportation to designated appointments, and REACHUP-specific activities. Its other complementary programs provide services such as stress support groups, family self-sufficiency activities and capacity building and technical support to grassroots community organizations. Continued on next page

9 Who is eligible for REACHUP services? Pregnant women, infants through two years of age, fathers and involved males, and interested families can use REACHUP services. CHHS services are available in zip codes 33602, 33603, 33605, 33607, and Other services are available throughout various parts of Hillsborough County or in certain areas of the Tampa Bay Region. Where can services be obtained? Services can be obtained by contacting REACHUP directly or through referrals from area medical providers, the Hillsborough County Health Department, and various community and faith-based organizations. Education, counseling, medical and social service-related care is provided in the home through REACHUP s home visiting program. Doula services are provided during labor and delivery at St. Joseph s Women s Hospital and Tampa General Hospital. Education, training, and peer support groups are provided at our multiple community organizational sites and churches. What is the fee for services? There is no fee for REACHUP services. How can I contact REACHUP? REACHUP can be contacted at or via at info@reachupincorporated.org. The REACHUP office is located at 2902 N. Armenia Avenue, Suite 100, Tampa, FL How can I support REACHUP? You can support REACHUP with tax-deductible monetary contribution to the REACHUP Foundation, Inc. and / or with in-kind contributions and various volunteer opportunities. Visit our web site at or call us at for more details.