Black Infant Health

Program History:

First Missionary Baptist Church of Littlerock, California, operates the Antelope Valley Black Infant Health Program (AVBIH). Partners in Care Foundation is the recipient of grants and acts as the fiscal manager for AVBIH. The Church was established in 1950 to serve the Littlerock/Sun Village community and is the oldest African American Church in the Antelope Valley. Today, First Missionary Baptist Church, with more than 2,700 members throughout the high desert region, has the largest African American congregation in the Antelope Valley.

View our Program's Brochure:

Black Infant Health Program Brochure

Our Mission:

The mission of the AVBIH is to eliminate the disproportionate rates of infant mortality and low weight births, and to improve related health status indicators in the Antelope Valley communities associated with the “Key Indicators of Health” report issued by Los Angeles County Public Health in 2003.

The program has responded to this challenging mission since January 2002 through its community based prenatal access, outreach, education and public awareness campaigns, followed by provision of services and care coordination for African American women in the community, both pre- and post- natal.

The AVBIH program is unique in Los Angeles County, perhaps in the State of California, in that it is the only faith-based organization that is working in partnership with community churches currently serving the target population. AVBIH currently has staff members who bring extensive experience in providing culturally sensitive care to African American women. The program enjoys great community support from the African American community on the infant mortality issue. The AVBIH program during the first two years has met all of its objectives and in some instances has far exceeded expectations.

C. McKinley Kemp is the Program Director for AVBIH. He has lived and worked in the target community for over 45 years. He brings to the project not only a significant understanding of the cultural issues and barriers, but years of experience working on both a paid and volunteer basis on health and social service issues in the African American community. He reports to Bishop Hearns of the First Baptist Missionary Church. Mr. Kemp is also a member of First Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Kemp has been an inspiration and role model in the African American community in the Antelope Valley. He brings passion and expertise in working with the target community.

The AV Black Infant Health program fills a gap in current services through innovative programs and ongoing collaboration with community leaders:

The Antelope Valley (AV) is a largely rural area that covers over 2,200 square miles north of Los Angeles County and southeastern Kern County and also includes two moderately sized cities, Lancaster and Palmdale. AV encompasses over 50% of the landmass of Los Angeles County and is larger than the States of Delaware and Rhode Island. Central Los Angeles is almost 1½ hours away and most services offered in greater Los Angeles are unavailable to residents of the AV.

The 2000 Census counted 116,670 residents of Palmdale, up nearly 70% from 68,842 a decade earlier- the results of the city’s population boom, fueled by affordable homes, before recession slowed growth rates to single digits in the mid- and late 1990’s. Lancaster’s population kept barely ahead of its formerly much-smaller neighbor: 118,718 inhabitants, up 22 percent from 97, 291 in 1990.

The population of ethnic minorities among the two cities’ populations also grew rapidly, so that in Palmdale no ethnic group had a majority. Palmdale ethnic minority population increased to about 59 percent- up from less than 33 percent in 1990- though it is difficult to calculate a clear number because of the way the Census Bureau categorizes races. The city had been 86 percent white in 1980, when it had only 12,227 inhabitants. In Lancaster, the ethnic minority population increased to about 48 percent, up from 30.2 percent in 1990 and 12.7 percent in 1980.

Hispanics were the largest ethnic minority: 43,991 (37.7 percent) in Palmdale and 28,644 (24.1 percent) in Lancaster, up from 22 percent in Palmdale and 15.2 percent in Lancaster a decade earlier.

The African-American community also grew: The 16,913 African-Americans recorded by the census made up 14.5 percent of Palmdale’s population, up from 6.5 percent in 1990. In Lancaster, 19,009 African-Americans constituted 16 percent of Lancaster’s residents, up from 7.4 percent in 1990. Currently the AVBBC is experiencing 80 percent Spanish speaking clients are eligible for Limit English Proficiency (LEP).

Outreach and Education:

The educational campaign of the Black Infant Health Program works to disseminate relevant, culturally competent information in African-American communities through multiple ventures. Substantial gains in infant health can be made by distributing practical knowledge about:

  • Immunization
  • The danger of alcohol and substance abuse
  • Household hazards (identification and prevention)
  • Child development and basic parenting skills

In coordination with local groups – church congregations primarily –classes, one-time informational meetings, and community events, like the Health Fair and annual Celebrate Healthy Babies festival are offered. In collaboration with other community groups, parents are alerted to more general health risks, such as:

  • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Alcohol and drug abuse
  • Obesity

Services:

BIH provides perinatal services and continuous care coordination for the infants of at-risk mothers through age one. Women and their babies enrolled in the program receive thorough follow-up attention, including:

  • Immunizations
  • Postpartum treatment
  • Well-baby care
  • Family Planning

Black Infant Health also works with local health care and social service providers, sharing educational materials and training about the specific needs of the African-American community. The Black Infant Health program has worked toward alleviation of the ongoing dilemma through culturally aware outreach and comprehensive services.

For more information about AV Black Infant Health program, please contact C. McKinley Kemp at (661) 945.0650 ext. 301 or