What happens when you implement all Ten Steps and center equity? Lives are saved.
Durham County, North Carolina—the first county to implement the Ten Steps to a Breastfeeding Family Friendly Community—achieved a remarkable 62.3% reduction in infant mortality from 2019 to 2024. From 32 babies dying to just 12 babies dying annually, Durham’s comprehensive approach demonstrates the life-saving potential of community-wide infrastructure building.
The Durham Model:
- 300+ organizations committed to the Ten Steps framework
- Equity-centered approach from day one, with targeted support for Black and marginalized families
- Comprehensive systems change across healthcare, childcare, workplaces, and community spaces
- Grassroots organizing that grew from 2 members to 2,000 members
The Results: Overall infant mortality plummet, and racial disparities improved beyond historical baseline levels—modeling how equity-focused implementation can work for all families.
Durham’s journey shows what’s possible when communities refuse to accept preventable loss and instead build comprehensive infrastructure to support babies and families.
Read Durham’s complete story and see their data →
Ready to adapt this model for your community? Contact us to learn how the Ten Steps framework can create lasting change.