Chicago, Illinois, 2006—The March of Dimes Illinois Chapter has awarded 11 grants in Illinois that will address significant unmet maternal and child health issues such as prevention of adolescent pregnancy, smoking cessation, and education enhancement for high-risk pregnant women.   These grants are one way the March of Dimes pursues its mission of preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. 

These grants include:

Greater DuPage MYM, in Glen Ellyn, will implement their program "Hispanic Adolescent Mothers: Prenatal Care Thru Doula Services” with a $15,000 grant.  In this program, a bilingual doula will be hired to deliver educational prenatal classes, and provide case management and support services in collaboration with the other doulas on staff.

Jefferson County Health Department, in Mt. Vernon was awarded $12,000 to support a "Mom 2 B Smoking Cessation Program" that is designed to improve birth outcomes and increase the chances of successful smoking cessation.

Livingston County Public Health Department, in Pontiac will receive $13,700 towards “An Alphabet for Healthy Babies”.  This is a multi-faceted project that offers unique opportunities for STI/HIV prevention education, screening and treatment.  The importance of folic acid/multi-vitamin use is also addressed to help in preventing neural tube defects.

Hecktoen Institute for Medical Research on behalf of Jackson Park Hospital, in Chicago will be provided $35,000 for their "Community-based Extended Doula Program for Dually Diagnosed Pregnant Women".  This program will provide services to pregnant women who have a primary diagnosis of mental illness and/or chemical dependency.  The purpose of the project is to improve birth outcomes for these pregnant women.

Southern Illinois Perinatal Program, in the Southern Illinois Region will be supported with a $35,000 grant for the "The Southern Illinois Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy" program.  A part-time cessation counselor will use the “five A’s” counseling approach to strengthen prenatal care office-based smoking cessation counseling and raise awareness of available smoking cessation resources for pregnant patients who smoke.

Stephenson County Health Department, in Freeport, will benefit from $7,800 to support "Access to Services".  This program is designed to provide transportation for prevention, well child and nutrition services.  Rides can be requested for prenatal/OB visits, medical, or well/sick visits for their children. 

Sudden Infant Death Services of Illinois, Inc., in Chicago, will benefit from $13,500 towards "This Side Up for Safe Sleep” This program provides educational literature to new parents about safe sleep positions.  Families who have experienced the loss of a child from SIDS and other forms of infant mortality will be continually supported.

University of Illinois College of Nursing, in Chicago was granted $21,620 for “Centering Pregnancy in Englewood: Integrating Centering Pregnancy into Clinical Practice”. This project will provide and evaluate Centering Pregnancy group care at the Englewood Chicago Department of Public Health Clinic.  The support offered for high-risk women and infants will reduce infant mortality and the number of low birth weight babies.

Wabash County Health Department, in Mt. Carmel, will implement a "WCHD Prenatal Substance Use prevention Project (PSUPP)" with a $ 27,698 grant.  This program provides substance use prevention education and cessation support with advocacy/referral services for prenatal/pre-conception women.  Physician/health professional education will focus on the importance of prenatal substance use screening, appropriate follow-up referral and resources, and client/patient education on avoidance of drug use.

Whiteside County Health Department, in Rock Fall, Illinois will receive $11,200 to support "The Prenatal and Parenting Program." This program will consist of seven week and 14 sessions of prenatal and parenting education taught by an experienced prenatal/pediatric nurse.  A bilingual interpreter will also be available for the Hispanic population.  Among the subjects to be addressed are nutrition, physical stress, nurturing relationships, substance abuse, labor and delivery, and newborn care.

West Side Future YMCA, of metropolitan Chicago, was given $15,000 for the “Comprehensive Early Prenatal Care Program” which focuses on prenatal health education, case management, and access to early and regular prenatal care for low-income pregnant women who are at risk.  Education is offered both individually and in groups.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish web site at nacersano.org.  For More information on an individual project, contact the Program Department at the March of Dimes Illinois Chapter at 312.435.4007