Best Babies Zone

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2022

The Best Babies Zone (BBZ) Initiative is a strategic, national effort to advance the BBZ approach. This approach is a place-based, multi-sector, community-driven effort to reduce racial inequities in infant mortality and birth outcomes by mobilizing community residents and organizational partners to address the social, structural and economic determinants of health to promote health equity. Vision: All babies are born healthy into communities that enable them to thrive and reach their full potential. To achieve this vision, the BBZ focuses on four key strategies: • Zonal focus; • Multi-Sector Collaboration; • Community-Driven Action; • Cultivating a Social Movement; Target Population: ZIP Codes 27610 & 27601 While facing the COVID-19 pandemic, the BBZ created sustainable partnerships with community organizations. Through collaborative efforts the BBZ has addressed safe sleep environments and provided nearly 200 families with free portable cribs for infants. To address the gap in internet connectivity, 138 families within the BBZ zone received free tablets and two-years of internet services through Verizon. The initiative has hosted and co-hosted over eight community engagement events within Southeast Raleigh. Providing more than 300 families with PPE, food, clothing, prenatal and postpartum education, safety approved baby items, resources related to employment, housing and transportation.