| The March of Dimes Iowa State Chapter volunteers and staff were awarded the 2003 Chapter of the Year Award in Public Affairs. This award was presented at the 2004 National March of Dimes staff meeting held in Phoenix, Arizona. This award recognizes a chapter that has successfully led at least two maternal and infant health advocacy initiatives in a legislative year and complies with all March of Dimes Public Affairs standards of success guidelines.
In 2003, March of Dimes volunteers and staff initiated legislative action to secure state funding for the Iowa Birth Defects Registry. The Registry monitors and tracks all babies born in Iowa with birth defects. The March of Dimes volunteers advocated for an increase to birth certificate fees to pay for the monitoring system in our state. Thanks to many key legislators, this bill was passed and was signed by Governor Vilsack on May 1, 2003.
The March of Dimes also advocated for newborn hearing screening to be added to the Iowa newborn-screening list for all Iowa babies. Iowa Medical Society, Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Hospital Association collaborated with the March of Dimes to secure legislation. This bill was passed and also signed by Governor Vilsack on May 1, 2003.
Above PHOTO: (L-R) Greg Gumbel, March of Dimes National Board of Trustee Member; Millisa Tierney, Iowa State Chapter Chair; Joyce Kohl, Iowa State Director; Suzanne Heckenlaible, Dir. of Field Services/Public Affairs; and Dr. Jennifer Howse, March of Dimes President. |
