The Steering Committee is a community-driven body of dedicated individuals working to reduce deaths among African American children by between 10 percent and 20 percent by 2020 in Sacramento County. The Committee was established by a resolution of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors in June 2013. Its ultimate charge is to provide coordination and oversight efforts, create a strategic plan, monitor implementation, evaluate and report on progress toward reducing the disproportional number of African American child deaths, in the four issue areas: deaths related to perinatal conditions, infant sleep related deaths, homicide related to child abuse and neglect and third party homicide.
BACKGROUND
In 2011, Supervisor Phil Serna convened the Blue Ribbon Commission on Disproportionate African American Child Deaths. Alarmed that in Sacramento County African American children die at very disproportional rates compared to other children, the Commission was an effort to activate the Sacramento community and engage resources to do something about it. One recommendation from the Blue Ribbon Commission was the formation of the Steering Committee. To read more from the Blue Ribbon Commission, download the Blue Ribbon Commission report.
CHARTER, MEETINGS, AND MEMBERSHIP
To learn more about the Steering Committee charter, its meetings and membership, please visit the Steering Committee webpage at: www.shfcenter.org/raacd.