Description: Marcus Jones reports that top officials from the Department of Public Health held a press conference to celebrate the positive findings of a study on the state's Healthy Start Program. The program provides prenatal, birth, and post-partum care to poor and uninsured women. Deborah Prothrow-Stith, the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health and Howard Spivak, the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Public Health speak at the press conference. Spivak says that high-risk women in the program had excellent results. Prothrow-Stith talks about the importance of prenatal care. Jones reviews the findings of the study of the program. Interview with Spivak about continued state funding for the program. The program's preventative medicine saves money in the long-run. Jones' report includes footage of infants, mothers, and health care workers in a hospital nursery. This edition of the Ten O'Clock News also included the following item: The Consortium of Minority Business Enterprises promotes minority set-aside programs.
1:00:05: Visual: Footage of Deborah Prothrow-Stith (Commissioner, Department of Public Health) and another public health official handing out an award to a woman at a small press conference. Shots of the audience applauding at the press conference. Marcus Jones reports that a small gathering of people gathered to celebrate the state's Healthy Start program. Jones reports that top officials from the Department of Public Health announced the findings of a study done on the first group of women and infants assisted by the Healthy Start Program. V: Footage of Howard Spivak (Deputy Commissioner, Department of Public Health) speaking at the press conference. Spivak says that minority women, teenage girls, and other high-risk populations were among those aided by the Healthy Start program. Shots of the audience at the press conference. Shot of a poster for the Healthy Start program. Jones reports that the Healthy Start program began in the mid-1980s; that the program is funded by state and federal money. Jones notes that the program provides pre-natal, birth, and post-partum care to poor, uninsured and under-insured women. V: Shot of a pregnant African American woman being examined by a health care worker. Shot of an African American woman with her child, sitting in the waiting area of a health clinic. Shot of an African American woman and child talking about paperwork with a health care worker. Footage of Spivak at the press conference. Spivak says that high-risk women in the Healthy Start program had better birth outcomes than high-risk women in any other sectors. Spivak says that the success of the Healthy Start program proves that a broad-based approach is effective; that the program succeeds because it tries to serve all of the needs of pregnant women. Shots of audience members at the press conference; of Jones at the press conference. Jones reports that teenagers and minorities in the Healthy Start Program gave birth to fewer low-weight babies than any other group in the state from July to December of 1986; that teenagers and minority women in the Healthy Start Program saw medical professionals more frequently; that teenagers and minority women in the Healthy Start program had fewer premature births. V: Shots of a nurse rocking and feeding an infant in the nursery of a hospital; of hospital workers at an administration desk; of an African American infant surrounded by medical equipment in a hospital nursery. Shot of a health care worker examining an African American infant in a hospital nursery. Jones reports that health officials would like the Healthy Start Program to continue to receive state funding. V: Shots of infants sleeping in a hospital nursery; of a woman in a hospital bed with her baby sleeping next to her. Footage of Spivak being interviewed by Jones. Spivak says that the Healthy Start Program is still in the state budget; that officials expect to be able to maintain the program at its present level. Shots of an African American woman holding her child in a hospital nursery. The woman speaks to a white health care worker. Shot of a child in an incubator being wheeled through a hospital corridor. Jones reports that the Healthy Start Program saves on hospital costs related to the birth of unhealthy and low-weight babies. Jones notes that the Healthy Start Program saves four to six dollars on hospital expenses for each dollar it spends. V: Footage of Prothrow-Stith at the press conference. Prothrow-Stith says that the Healthy Start Program saves lives, prevents human tragedy, and saves money. Shots of the audience at the press conference.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 05/15/1989
Description: Hope Kelly reports on an increase in the infant mortality rate since last year. Kelly reviews statistics on the infant mortality rate in Massachusetts and in Boston. There is a wide discrepancy between the infant mortality rates in the white and African American communities. Two out of three infant deaths in Boston are African American infants. Interview with Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Public Health, David Mulligan and Howard Spivak about the rising infant mortality rate. The state of Massachusetts has implemented prenatal care programs for all pregnant women. Interview with Commissioner of Boston Health and Hospitals, Judith Kurland, about the prenatal care programs. Kurland says that the programs do not reach the women who are most in need of them. Kurland says that an increase in poverty has resulted in an increase of the infant mortality rates. Kelly reviews statistics concerning teenage pregnancy in the state, noting that teenage pregnancy is becoming increasingly common. Kelly's report is accompanied by footage of infants in a hospital nursery and footage of a doctor examining a baby.
1:00:01: Visual: Shots of an infant in a neo-natal intensive care unit; of an infant in an incubator being wheeled through the corridors of a hospital. Hope Kelly reports that infant mortality refers to any infant who dies within the first year of life; that the infant mortality rate among the minority population in Massachusetts is high. Kelly reports that the infant mortality rate for white babies is 7.1 per 1,000 births; that the infant mortality rate for African American babies is 17.2 per 1,000 births. Kelly notes that the infant mortality rate for white babies in Boston is 8.1 per 1,000 births; that the infant mortality rate for African American babies in Boston is 24.4 per 1,000 births. Kelly reports that the infant mortality rate has increased since last year. V: On-screen text and visuals detail the statistics of the infant mortality rate in Massachusetts. Footage of David Mulligan (Commissioner of Public Health) saying that there the infant mortality rate signals a wide discrepancy between the white community and the African American community. Kelly reports that two out of every three infant deaths in Boston are African American infants; that African Americans make up less than one-quarter of the city's population. V: Footage of Howard Spivak (Deputy Commissioner of Public Health) saying that infant mortality rates are high across the nation; that Massachusetts has one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the nation. Shot of a woman dressing a baby in an examination room of a health clinic. Kelly reports that Massachusetts has already implemented pre-natal care programs for all pregnant women. V: Footage of Judith Kurland (Commissioner, Boston Health and Hospitals) saying that these programs are good; that the programs do not always reach the women who need the most help. Kurland says that there are women who do not know that help is available. Kelly reports that Kurland runs the health department of the city of Boston. Kelly reports that one out of four newborns at Boston City Hospital will spend time in the intensive care nursery. Kelly notes that the mothers of these children often receive inadequate pre-natal care. V: Shot of an infant in the intensive care nursery. Shot of a health care worker tending to an infant in a hospital nursery. The health care worker takes a measurement and refers to a gauge. Kelly reports that Kurland does not think that the pre-natal care programs in Massachusetts are adequate. V: Footage of Kurland saying that the programs need to reach women in housing projects and on street corners. Shot of health care workers tending to an infant in a hospital nursery. The workers look at an image on a computer monitor. The infant is hooked up to medical equipment. Kelly reports that Kurland is proposing a radical expansion of health care. Kelly notes that outreach is necessary in order to help at-risk women. V: Footage of Kurland saying that there has been an increase in poverty during the past eight years; that increases in poverty are linked to increases in infant mortality. Kelly reports that teenage pregnancy is on the rise in Massachusetts. Kelly reports that 88,047 babies were born to teenage mothers in Massachusetts in 1988; that 84,343 babies were born to teenage mothers in Massachusetts in 1987. Kelly notes that the teenage birthrate has increased 22% since 1980. V: Shot of a young woman and a baby at the window of an apartment building. On-screen text and visuals detail statistics about teen pregnancy in Massachusetts. Shot of Dr. Graunke (pediatrician), a woman, and a baby in an examination room at the Codman Square Health Center. The woman puts the child on the examination table.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 12/12/1989
Description: David Boeri reports on the Bank of Boston's new mortgage program for low- and moderate-income city residents. President of Bank of Boston Ira Stepanian and Robert Mahoney announcing the new program to the media at a press conference at a Roxbury branch of the Bank of Boston. Boeri reviews the terms of the program. He notes that many houses in the area are not eligible for the program because their sale prices are too high. Interview with Roxbury resident Diana Strother, who says that many residents do not make enough money to take advantage of the program. Interview with Leon Wilson from the Bank of Boston about the terms of mortgages under the program. Boeri notes that the units in the Fort Hill condominium complex are too expensive to qualify for the Bank of Boston program. Interview with Boston resident Alvin Wilkins and realtor Eve Moss about housing prices in the area. Interview with Bruce Marks from the Hotel and Restaurant Workers Union. Marks calls the Bank of Boston program a "public relations scam" if it does not truly help low-income residents with followup steps.
1:00:03: Visual: Footage of Ira Stepanian (President, Bank of Boston) speaking to the media at a Roxbury branch of the Bank of Boston. Stepanian says that the Bank of Boston would like to help to solve some of the city's problems. Shots of media and audience members listening to Stepanian. David Boeri reports that Stepanian talked about the Bank of Boston's new mortgage program for city residents. Boeri notes that the new program is called First Step With Rate Advantage. Boeri describes the terms of the mortgages offered under the program. Boeri reports that the first year's rate is 8.65%; that the maximum purchase price cannot exceed $140,000 for a single unit; that the maximum purchase price cannot exceed $185,000 for a two-family home; that the maximum purchase price cannot exceed $225,000 for a three-family home. Boeri notes that individuals making $35,000 or less are eligible for the program; that families making $45,000 or less are eligible. V: On-screen text details the terms of the mortgages offered under the program. Footage of Robert Mahoney (Bank of Boston) addressing the audience at the Roxbury branch of the bank. Mahoney says that the program serves the needs of a certain segment of the population. Shots of African American women in the audience. Boeri notes that some Roxbury residents say that the program is out of reach for them. V: Footage of Diana Strother (Roxbury resident) saying that Roxbury residents pay the highest rents in the city; that the average income in Roxbury is $15,000. Strothers says that most Roxbury residents do not make enough to take advantage of the program. Footage of Leon Wilson (Bank of Boston) being interviewed by Boeri. Boeri notes that it is difficult to find a house for $140,000 in this neighborhood. Boeri asks about monthly mortgage payment on a $140,000 house. Wilson says that residents would pay $1,100 per month if they made a downpayment of $14,000. Boeri reports that it is hard to find houses which meet the eligibility requirements of the program. V: Shot of a condominium complex in Fort Hill with units for sale. Shot of Boeri talking to a small group of people on the front porch of one of the Fort Hill condominium buildings. Boeri notes that condominium units in a Fort Hill development are selling between $149,000 and $165,000. Boeri notes that the condominiums do not meet the eligibility requirements of the Bank of Boston program; that the condominiums are not affordable for many residents. V: Shot of homes on a residential street. Footage of Alvin Wilkins (Boston resident) being interviewed by Boeri. Boeri asks Wilkins if it is possible to find homes for $140,000 in the area. Wilkins says that homes selling at $140,000 need a lot of repair. Wilkins says that it is impossible to find a home which is ready to move in to at that price. Footage of Eve Moss (realtor) saying that the average mortgage payment for one of the Fort Hill condominiums is $1,200. Moss says that it is difficult to make those mortgage payments on a salary of $45,000 or less. Footage of Wilson saying that the Bank of Boston is trying to provide an opportunity for some people to own a home. Footage of Bruce Marks (Hotel and Restaurant Workers Union) says that the Bank of Boston is pulling a public relations scam if they are trying to bill the program as an example of a low- and moderate-income home ownership program. Marks says that he would like to see a program which is truly aimed at low- and moderate-income people. Footage of Mahoney addressing the audience at a Roxbury branch of Bank of Boston. Boeri reports that many hope the program's next step will be a bigger one.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 05/10/1989