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Jacki Apel, Director of Communications, March of Dimes, 803-403-8523, japel@marchofdimes.com

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(January 18, 2013)—The South Carolina Chapter of the March of Dimes has awarded more than $140,000 in 15 community grants for projects focused on improving the health of mothers and babies in South Carolina.

 

Statewide Grants include:

Family Connection of South Carolina ($25,100) to provide parent-to-parent support through healthcare service referral and prevention education for future pregnancies for families with preterm infants across South Carolina.

SC Chapter Zeta Phi Beta Sorority is receiving $10,000 to fund “South Carolina Health Connections VIII-Stork’s Nest”. “Storks Nest” provides statewide prenatal education and incentives program for low-income pregnant women.

 

The South Carolina Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is receiving $10,000 to implement “African American Prematurity Awareness, Outreach and Education Project”. This program focuses on reducing the disparity of premature births in African Americans by providing education to males around the state.

 

The South Carolina Perinatal Association (SCPA) is receiving $5,000 to support the “SCPA Education Committee,” which reaches health care professionals statewide through conferences and local seminars aimed at improving perinatal care.

 

PASOs is receiving $167,000 to improve the health and birth outcomes of the Latino population.

 

Grants in the Midlands include:

Keystone Substance Abuse Services ($20,000) to reduce Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) by educating mothers-to-be and women of childbearing age in Rock Hill.

 

McLeod Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ($30,000) to provide education to hospital staff and new moms on the importance of providing breast milk to low birth weight and preterm infants in Florence.

 

Palmetto Health ($4,468) to support the annual Midlands Perinatal Regional Conference for hospital staff in the Midlands area.

 

SC Hispanic Outreach ($29,084) to provide prenatal health education to Latino women in Aiken.

 

USC Department of OB-GYN ($3,000) to support the annual Women’s Health Research Forum for health care providers and medical residents in the Columbia area.

 

 

Grants in the Upstate include:

 

Greenville Hospital System University Medical Group Obstetric Care Center is receiving $104,632 for the program “Centering Pregnancy®”, which implements an evidenced-based group model of prenatal care. This enhanced prenatal care has been shown to lower rates of preterm births, increase adequacy of prenatal care and increase patient satisfaction.

 

BirthMatters ($28,900) to provide in-home education and support to underserved pregnant women in Spartanburg.

 

Each year, the South Carolina Chapter of the March of Dimes invests in mission initiatives statewide, including research grants and local community services. Through these program services, the March of Dimes continues working to prevent birth defects and infant death, reduce South Carolina’s premature birth rate, increase access to prenatal care and educate men and women about having healthy babies.

 

Premature birth touches 9,000 babies and their families every year in South Carolina. The March of Dimes is funding vital research and programs to find ways to prevent preterm birth. In South Carolina, Select Health of South Carolina, Inc. is the Premier partner of the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign. Palmetto Health is also a Prematurity Campaign sponsor.

 

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.  Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.