Magnolia Project
Strategies with this rating are recommended by credible, impartial experts but have limited research documenting effects; further research, often with stronger designs, is needed to confirm effects.
Evidence Ratings
Scientifically Supported: Strategies with this rating are most likely to make a difference. These strategies have been tested in many robust studies with consistently positive results.
Some Evidence: Strategies with this rating are likely to work, but further research is needed to confirm effects. These strategies have been tested more than once and results trend positive overall.
Expert Opinion: Strategies with this rating are recommended by credible, impartial experts but have limited research documenting effects; further research, often with stronger designs, is needed to confirm effects.
Insufficient Evidence: Strategies with this rating have limited research documenting effects. These strategies need further research, often with stronger designs, to confirm effects.
Mixed Evidence: Strategies with this rating have been tested more than once and results are inconsistent or trend negative; further research is needed to confirm effects.
Evidence of Ineffectiveness: Strategies with this rating are not good investments. These strategies have been tested in many robust studies with consistently negative and sometimes harmful results. Learn more about our methods
Strategies with this rating are recommended by credible, impartial experts but have limited research documenting effects; further research, often with stronger designs, is needed to confirm effects.
Evidence Ratings
Scientifically Supported: Strategies with this rating are most likely to make a difference. These strategies have been tested in many robust studies with consistently positive results.
Some Evidence: Strategies with this rating are likely to work, but further research is needed to confirm effects. These strategies have been tested more than once and results trend positive overall.
Expert Opinion: Strategies with this rating are recommended by credible, impartial experts but have limited research documenting effects; further research, often with stronger designs, is needed to confirm effects.
Insufficient Evidence: Strategies with this rating have limited research documenting effects. These strategies need further research, often with stronger designs, to confirm effects.
Mixed Evidence: Strategies with this rating have been tested more than once and results are inconsistent or trend negative; further research is needed to confirm effects.
Evidence of Ineffectiveness: Strategies with this rating are not good investments. These strategies have been tested in many robust studies with consistently negative and sometimes harmful results. Learn more about our methods
Health factors shape the health of individuals and communities. Everything from our education to our environments impacts our health. Modifying these clinical, behavioral, social, economic, and environmental factors can influence how long and how well people live, now and in the future.
The Magnolia Project is a Healthy Start program that provides prenatal and interconception care and case management services to eligible women in five Jacksonville Florida zip codes; most residents of these zip codes are black. Services include case management, family planning, group based health education, clinical services, and community outreach.
What could this strategy improve?
Expected Benefits
Our evidence rating is based on the likelihood of achieving these outcomes:
Improved birth outcomes
Potential Benefits
Our evidence rating is not based on these outcomes, but these benefits may also be possible:
Reduced incidence of STIs
Increased use of contraception
What does the research say about effectiveness? This strategy is rated expert opinion.
The Magnolia Project is a suggested strategy to improve birth outcomes1. Available evidence suggests that participation by high-risk women in the case management program may lower the incidence of infant mortality2, 3, 4 and low birthweight babies3, 4. Participants appear to have fewer repeat sexually transmitted infections (STIs)3, 5, and may make greater use of family planning methods than before participating in the program5. Additional evidence is needed to confirm effects.
How could this strategy impact health disparities? This strategy is rated likely to decrease disparities.
Implementation Examples
As of July 2013, the Magnolia Project is only in Jacksonville, Florida.
Footnotes
* Journal subscription may be required for access.
1 March of Dimes-Pregnancy - March of Dimes. Toward improving the outcome of pregnancy III.
2 Brady 2014 - Brady C, Johnson F. Integrating the life course into MCH service delivery: From theory to practice. Maternal and Child Health Journal. 2014;18(2):380-8.
3 Livingood 2010 - Livingood WC, Brady C, Pierce K, et al. Impact of pre-conception health care: Evaluation of a social determinants focused intervention. Maternal and Child Health Journal. 2010;14(3):382-91.
4 Will 2005 - Will JA, Hall I, Cheney T, Driscoll M. Flower power: Assessing the impact of the Magnolia Project on reducing poor birth outcomes in an at-risk neighborhood. Journal of Applied Sociology. 2005;22(2).
5 Biermann 2006 - Biermann J, Dunlop AL, Brady C, Dubin C, Brann Jr. A. Promising practices in preconception care for women at risk for poor health and pregnancy outcomes. Maternal and Child Health Journal. 2006;10(5 Suppl):S21-8.
Related What Works for Health Strategies
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countyhealthrankings.org/take-action-to-improve-health/what-works-for-health/strategies/magnolia-project
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countyhealthrankings.org/whatworks