The March of Dimes Maine Chapter responds
The March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign is a multimillion-dollar research, awareness and education campaign to help families have healthier babies. The campaign:
• Funds research to find the causes of premature birth. Your participation in WalkAmerica, Signature Chefs Auction, Touch a Truck, President’s Society and other events helps to fund vital research. In 2007, the third annual Prematurity Research Initiative (PRI) grants program committed an additional $3 million in March of Dimes funding.

• Encourages investment of public and private research dollars to identify causes and to identify and test promising interventions.  Chapter volunteers successfully advocated for the PREEMIE Bill, Phase one. We are now advocating at the federal level for PREEMIE Bill, Phase 2, to fund the initiative to provide research and education on prematurity.

• Educates women about risk-reduction strategies and the signs and symptoms of premature labor. We have distributed thousands of pieces of public health education materials identifying the Signs and Symptoms of Preterm Labor, I Want My 9 Months, My 9 Months Preterm Labor, and Thinking About Pregnancy After a Premature Birth. As part of our preconception message, we have provided thousands of women of childbearing age with free daily multiple vitamins with 400 mcg folic acid. Our Chapter Community Grants have provided women with smoking cessation support, testing for sexually transmitted diseases and preconception health care. Grantees have also addressed the issue of disparities in care.

• Provides information and emotional support to families affected by prematurity. In 2006, we opened the NICU Family Support program at Maine Medical Center. Families receive the Parent Care Kit, full of information on caring for preemies. They also can participate in the Parent to Parent support, creative activities, educational sessions and other programs to support the families. This is funded by your contributions and a generous 3-year grant from TD Banknorth Charitable Foundation.  This fall, we are urging you to support this project by posting your baby’s story and photo on www.marchofdimes.com/everybabyhasastory. Another March of Dimes website sponsors an on-line support group for families of preemies at www.marchofdimes.com/share.

• Advocates to expand access to health care coverage to improve maternity care and infant health outcomes.  Our volunteers and staff are advocating at the federal level for renewal of S-CHIP, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, to provide health care coverage for pregnant women and children.