| In an effort to improve the health of mothers and babies, the March of Dimes recently awarded $116,200 to eight programs in Oregon and Southwest Washington. These programs promote maternal and infant health with an emphasis on reducing premature birth, birth defects and infant mortality.
Salem Hospital Foundation (Dr. James Brooks Memorial Grant): $22,500
Funding for a bilingual, bicultural maternity case manager-educator to work with moderate to high-risk, uninsured pregnant women at the Salem Hospital Family Birth Center. The grant is in memory of Dr. James Brooks, a pediatrician and longtime March of Dimes volunteer.
Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center (Michael Osborne Memorial Community Grant): $22,500
Grant will provide oral health care to low-income pregnant women with periodontal disease. Researchers have linked poor dental health to premature birth. The grant is named in memory of Michael Osborne, a longtime March of Dimes volunteer from Washington County who served as the Chapter Chairman in 2004 and 2005.
Marion County Health Department: $20,000
Grant will provide preconception education, health promotion, risk assessment, and other referrals for low-income women through the Marion County Family Planning Clinic and the Marion County Prenatal Clinic.
Healthy Steps Women’s and Children’s Center: $15,000
Grant to increase utilization of early and consistent prenatal care by teens and Spanish-speaking women through a group prenatal care program in Southwest Washington.
Salem Women’s Clinic: $14,204
Grant will fund comprehensive prenatal care to pregnant teens using the Centering Pregnancy Model.
Children’s Home Society of Washington: $10,000
Funding to increase access to health insurance information and provide prenatal education for low-income pregnant women, and increase awareness of pre and postnatal family support services to medical providers in Southwest Washington.
Healthy Start Prenatal Services in Deschutes County: $10,000
Funding to serve pregnant Hispanic women through early detection and treatment programs for existing or gestational diabetes, and through education and support programs to decrease adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Klamath County Department of Public Health: $2,000
This community award will provide prenatal vitamins to low-income pregnant women through the Family Planning Clinics in Klamath County.
The March of Dimes is also funding nearly $1 million in local research grants. Grant awards are made possible through special events, corporate giving and individual donations. |
