| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tim J. Arndt, Sr. State Dir. of Comm. and Mktg.
March of Dimes Indiana Chapter
317-262-4668 and tarndt@marchofdimes.com 2006 March of Dimes Day at the Capitol to be held January 31st in Indianapolis. Volunteers will ask lawmakers to back legislation regarding treatment resources for pregnant substance users and for continued funding of Indiana’s birth defects surveillance system.
(Indianapolis, IN, January 26, 2006) March of Dimes Indiana Chapter Public Affairs Committee volunteers will conduct the annual March of Dimes Day at the Capitol in Indianapolis on Tuesday, January 31st with a luncheon for select legislators and presentations by several maternal and child health experts, followed by meetings with legislators at the statehouse.
Volunteers will help advance March of Dimes 2006 public policy issues, including:
- Generating support for legislation by Representative Jeff Thompson of Danville, IN to conduct a statewide needs assessment and plan for addressing substance abuse during pregnancy which will help prevent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
- Securing a commitment from the Indiana legislature and the Indiana State Department of Health to maintain funding for the state’s birth defects surveillance system which is in jeopardy.
The agenda for the event includes:
- “Advocacy 101,” training for new volunteers in the issues that are important to Indiana’s mothers and babies begins at 10:30am.
- Lunch with select senators and representatives begins at 12:00pm. Dr. Judith Monroe, Indiana State Health Commissioner will present the “State of Indiana’s Babies” and what can be done to help them. Also scheduled to present at the luncheon are:
- Representative Thompson
- Dr. James Nocon, Wishard Memorial Hospital, an OB/GYN who treats pregnant substance users.
- Kirstin Schwandt, MS, CGC, Genomics Program Director for the Indiana State Department of Health.
- At 1:45pm, the information session wraps-up and volunteers will take the short walk to the Indiana statehouse. Once at the statehouse volunteers split up and go to their elected officials’ offices to meet with the representatives and senators. Visits with legislators continue until 3:45pm.
The lunch and general information session will take place at West Market Conference Center, 150 W. Market Street, Rooms C & D, Indianapolis, across from the state Capitol Building. Contact Jan Arnold at 1-800-844-9255 or email Jan at jarnold@marchofdimes.com for more information.
The March of Dimes is the voluntary health organization whose mission is to save babies’ lives by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality and in 2003 launched its Prematurity Campaign. The March of Dimes funds programs of scientific research, community programs, education, and advocacy that save babies’ lives. Visit www.marchofdimes.com/Indiana for more information.
|
