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Each year, local March of Dimes chapters award grants to external organizations across the state in order to address unmet maternal and infant health needs. These community grants are one way that the March of Dimes pursues its mission of saving babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.

NOTE: The Connecticut Chapter will not be issuing a new 2010 Request for Proposals, but instead will continue to provide funding to our current grantees operating Centering Pregnancy Group Prenatal Care programs.  Questions - please contact Erin Jones, Director of Program Services at 860-812-0080 x. 305.		  
2009 Connecticut Chapter Grants

Each year the Connecticut Chapter awards thousands of dollars to community service programs that work to prevent and decrease prematurity, low birth weight, birth defects and infant mortality and to increase the availability to quality prenatal care.  Listed below are the programs the Connecticut Chapter is pleased to support this year.

Initiatives for Year 2009:

CenteringPregnancy®
CenteringPregnancy is a model of prenatal care that combines the three main components of prenatal care (assessment, education, support) in a group setting. The Centering Pregnancy model of prenatal care provides care to women in groups.  The groups provide a safe, supportive environment where women can learn from each other and build positive, motivating relationships and positive birth outcomes.  Program funded locally at:

Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center -- Hartford
Community Health Center, Inc. -- Middletown/Meriden
Hospital of Saint Raphael’s -- New Haven
Mansfield OB/GYN LLC -- Mansfield

City of Stamford: Mobile Medical Van: Neighborhood Outreach for Healthy Moms & Babies
The Stamford Health Department’s Mobile Medical Van will visit low-income neighborhoods with populations most in need of preconception/interconception education and prenatal service referrals to Stamford’s Hospital’s OBGYN Clinic and Optimus Healthcare, Inc.’s Clinic.

Generations Family Health Center- Alternative Connections for Women’s Health- Willimantic
A community outreach and education program designed to reach women in Windham County who find it difficult to access mainstream health services due to atypical employment  schedules, lifestyles, substance abuse, unstable relationships, homelessness, teen issues, and cultural barriers. 

UNCAS Health District
The Uncas Health Department (UHD) will develop and facilitate a preconception health care coalition to access comprehensive preconception health in the geographical regional and develop strategies.                                                                                                                

Comenzando Bien®Comenzando Bien is a March of Dimes supported prenatal education program that addresses the unique needs of Hispanic women and their families.  It provides participants with information about steps they can take to help their babies get a healthy start in life.  Funded locally at:

La Via Latina – Torrington
Family and Children Agencies - Norwalk