Right Start Detroit

In October 2009, D3 collaborated with the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion. With access to the health department's subcommunity birth data, D3 compiled "Right Start in Detroit 2009: Maternal and Infant Well-Being in the City of Detroit, 2000-2007." The report is a concrete example of how data can be used by the community and policymakers to drive effective decision-making. The report revealed, for example, that both the percentage of babies born with low weight and the percentage of mothers who smoked during pregnancy were significantly high in the Brightmoor, St. Jean, and Mack subcommunities. This insight allows stakeholders to target their resources to the areas of greatest need. This year, D3 updated its 2009 report on maternal and infant wellbeing with new data and additional maps and statistical profiles of subcommunities.