Circle of Wise Women

The Circle of Wise Women is a group of African American community women committed to acting together to reduce the number of our babies that die before they celebrate their first birthdays.

The mission of the Circle of Wise Women is to:
Improve infant wellness and survival through education and prevention by increasing health awareness within the African American community; create a circle of change by promoting healthy behavior and increase the circle of life by surrounding parents and infants with strong, loving community bonds.

Why?

The overall low birth weight rate (LBW) in Kane County, at 7.2%, is over 40% higher than the national goal of 5.5% presented in Healthy People 2010. First trimester entry into prenatal care is lower than Illinois or the US. Teen births remain higher in Aurora than in Illinois or the US.

African American infant mortality is three times the white rate and teen births are 1/3 higher. The 2002 LBW in Kane for African Americans, at 14.2%, is more than double that of Hispanics and the White population.

The Kane County Health Department, in 2005, Auror Circle

began working on a county-wide needs assessment called the IPLAN – short for Illinois Plan for Local Assessment of Need.

That assessment was completed in 2006 through the active participation of many community members and leaders. Disparities in maternal and child health emerged as one of the top five priorities of the IPLAN Infant mortality among African American babies proved to be the highest concern.

Based in large measure on this IPLAN assessment, and in response to the Health Department’s request, Alderwoman Sheketa Hart-Burns in Aurora and Councilwoman Brenda Rogers in Elgin convened a Circle of Wise Women to plan a coordinated approach to improving the health and survival of African American infants in Kane County.

Actions?

The Circles of Wise Women took the time to study the data and the issues that surround infant mortality and illness. They also spent time reviewing actions other communities have taken to improve health and wellness for African American infants. Now the Circles are taking action that helps other women learn about the issue and take whatever preventive measures are possible. The very first action of the Circles was a poster campaign to help prevent premature births—the leading cause of infant deaths.

Materials

Aurora Circle of Wise Women Brochure
Elgin Circle of Wise Women Brochure
Prematurity Prevention Poster

For additional information about the
Circle of Wise Women, contact the
Kane County Health Department
at (630)444-3084

News

Issues?

Among the specific issues affecting African American health and survival are low birth weight, preterm labor (before 37 weeks), prematurity, small size for gestational age, infection, stress, and poor prenatal weight gain. Higher rates of infant mortality persist across all ages, income levels, and educational levels of African American women.

Where?

There are two circles in Kane County: the Aurora Circle of Wise Women and the Elgin Circle of Wise Women.

They meet monthly.

Aurora Circle of Wise Women meet the third Monday of the month at 2-4 PM
at Fred Rodgers Community Center,
501 College Avenue, Aurora.

Elgin Circle of Wise Women meet the third Tuesday of the month, 1:30-3:00 PM
at Kane County Health Department,
1750 Grandstand Place, Elgin.

Who?

The Circles of Wise Women are open to any African American women who want to help end the disparities in health and survival for African American women and infants. The Circles plan to call on other community partners to assist them in carrying out plans that are tailored to meet the needs of African American women of childbearing age.

COST?

Many of the action plans will cost money and the Circles of Wise Women plan to seek support through community partners, grant funds, and sponsorships for various health events and messages.