Focus Areas

Nutrition Security

• Mississippi grapples with significant challenges related to nutrition security. These issues are complex and contribute to disparities in access to nutritious and affordable food, particularly for vulnerable populations.
• Approximately 480,600 Mississippians suffer from food insecurity, which equates to more than 15% of MS households being unable to provide adequate food.
• Low income and racial/ethnic minority neighborhoods have an elevated risk for both food insecurity and chronic disease.

Specific Aims

1. Conduct a comparative study of a fruits and vegetable distribution program in four community-based settings;

2. Implement a community-driven education program;

3. Recruit and train community nutrition liaisons to implement community strategies supporting nutrition security. 

Towards a Future of Healthy Black Moms and Babies

Addressing Social Determinants of Health to Modify Cardiovascular Risk Factors

According to the 2016-2020 Mississippi Maternal Mortality Report (MMMR):

• Black individuals represent nearly 38% of Mississippi’s population, yet Black women were four times more likely than White women to die of causes directly related to pregnancy in 2020.
• Of those deaths, 80% were deemed preventable and 92% of cases had some level of opportunity to alter the outcome of death.
• According to the same MMMR report, cardiovascular disease and hypertension are the top contributors to maternal mortality.

1. Black/African American young adult women (25 to 45 years of age)
2. Permanent residence in the study area
3. Must be in the preconception phase or interconception (at least 6 months postpartum) phase with the intention to get pregnant in the next five years or is not actively preventing pregnancy
4. No serious medical diagnoses or complications that would contraindicate participation

Community-Based Approach
Faith-Based Community Health Worker Hub Model

• Local Faith-based Organization Or Church
• Local Public Health Clinic
• Local Healthcare System
• Community-based Mental Health Facility
• Social-service Or Community-based Organization

With Every Heartbeat Is Life group-based cardiovascular risk reduction intervention

Support provided by/through Community Health Worker

• Lifestyle change support for blood pressure, blood glucose, weight, anxiety, stress,
• Health coaching to support achieving desired health behaviors such as wellness visits, sleep, diet, physical activity, and tobacco/alcohol use