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Advocate for California’s Moms and Babies

The March of Dimes California Chapter leads policy and legislative efforts that support our mission of improving the health of women, infants and children by reducing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. The key to that success is the commitment and involvement of our grassroots volunteers in demonstrating to policy makers and legislators how the work that we do saves lives in California. Below are details about our current policy priorities and how you can get involved in these efforts.

California Advocacy Issues and Priorities

• In 2013, March of Dimes is supporting an advocacy agenda that will increase access to health care for women and children and work to reduce our state’s preterm birth rate.  Our priority bills include:

  o   ABX1 1/SBX1 1 to expand Medi-Cal coverage to more women of childbearing age and increase the services available to pregnant women on Medi-Cal

  o   AB 209 to improve the quality of health care services provided by Medi-Cal

  o   AB 746 to prohibit smoking in multifamily housing and protect women and children from secondhand smoke exposure

• Read our 2012 Advocacy Update for all the details on our advocacy efforts in 2012, including successfully advocating for the Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign AB 1731. This new law will save the lives of babies by requiring all newborns to be screened for critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) starting July 1, 2013.

Volunteer Opportunities

• Please join us for Capitol Day on May 21, 2013 in Sacramento.   See www.marchofdimes.com/ca/2013capitolday for more information or register for the event at www.surveymonkey.com/s/2013capitolday.  Email Justin Garrett for more information.

• Sign up for the March of Dimes Advocacy Network to receive updates and action alerts related to our advocacy priorities. Visit the Advocacy action center and click on “Action E-List” to join the network.

Stay Informed

• Like the California Chapter on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
• Learn more about the March of Dimes federal priorities.