| The March of Dimes Virginia Chapter is working at all levels to ensure the health of mothers and babies. By leveraging its resources as part of a large national non-profit organization, your local March of Dimes chapter is able to form local alliances and secure partnerships with government officials, state and local agencies, medical institutions and hospitals, and other groups. By working together, we have a greater impact on maternal and infant health in Virginia.
Some of our recent "WINS" -
The nation's preterm birth rate fell by 3% - the second year in a row! Click here for info!
Through advocacy efforts of staff and volunteers, legislation passed to ban smoking in all restaurants effective December 1, 2009. Click here for the story!
Another advocacy accomplishment was to cause the withdrawal of legislation that would have allowed an exemption of childhood immunizations based on philosophical reasons.
Influencing our state's priorities. The Virginia Chapter has volunteers and staff that serve on the health Commissioners Infant Mortality Task Force. In 2009, Virginia documented an historic drop in infant mortality rates - something former Gov. Tim Kaine attributed to help from the March of Dimes and other like-minded groups.
Newborn screening was expanded from 9 to 29 conditions beginning March 1, 2006. Since that time, 66 newborns have been diagnosed positive for the new tests.
Access to Care. The Virginia Chapter advocated and won an increase in eligibility for FAMIS MOMS from 185% federal poverty level to 200% federal poverty level effective July 1, 2009.
Healthcare Earmarks. The Virginia Chapter was successful in getting the first increase in the sales tax on cigarettes with the income being earmarked for healthcare costs.
March of Dimes NICU Family SupportSM project was developed to respond to the emotional and informational needs of families during the NICU hospitalization, during the transition home and in the event of a newborn death. Virginia NICU Family SupportSM project was launched at the Henrico Doctors Hospital under direction of NICU specialist. In May, 2009, a second program was launched at the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, the first of its kind in a military hospital, either stateside or abroad.
March of Dimes research grantee, Dr. Jerome Strauss at VCU has identified genetic variation that may cause premature rupture of the membranes and preterm birth. This typifies how heredity may play a role in pregnancy complications.
Local community grants fund improved prenatal care.
In 2010, the March of Dimes Virginia Chapter is investing more than $150,000 grants to local communities funding the Centering Pregnancyฎ module in nine areas of the state. The module is proven to decease preterm births.
The chapter also sponsors a Centering Pregnancyฎ peer to peer network providing continuing education and sharing of best practices.
National Research grants explore ways to prevent birth defects and prematurity.
The national March of Dimes currently funds research grants to Virginia universities and hospitals totaling more than $1,346,000. Click here for details in our most current national Annual Report.
Since the victory over polio, the March of Dimes has worked to protect our nations young from birth defects, premature birth, and other threats to their health. Millions of babies have been saved from death or disability. The babies in every state benefit from national research grants funded by the March of Dimes. In addition, we still work toward the day when every baby has the best possible chance to be born healthy.
Premature birth is the number one killer of newborns and a major cause of serious health problems.
Each year, premature births cost our society billions of dollars. Nearly half a million babies are born prematurely every year and the number is rising. The March of Dimes is leading a national effort to save babies from premature birth by funding research to find the causes and by supporting local programs that offer hope and help to families with a baby in intensive care.
Here in Virginia, over 12,000 babies are born prematurely annually. Click here for our most recent report, the 2009 Virginia PreMaturity Report Card (good thru Sept. 1, 2010).
For further information visit our National Prematurity Campaign website and/or the PeriStats site for our Virginia Chapter.
The March of Dimes NICU Family Support program was developed and launched in 2001 to respond to the emotional and informational needs of families during the NICU hospitalization, during the transition home and in the event of a newborn death. NICU families receive books and have the opportunity to view videos that provide information about the NICU experience, and receive direct services that provide emotional support within the NICU setting.
The first Virginia NICU Family Support project was launched in 2007 at the Henrico Doctors Hospital.
In March 2009, the first NICU Family Support Project in a military hospital was launched in the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth.
The March of Dimes provides public and professional health education.
The March of Dimes Virginia Chapter provides public education materials which include brochures, booklets, posters, and videos on a variety of pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, and infant related issues. Items are available in easy-to-read formats and many are available in Spanish. Contact our Director of Program Services Sara Long for further information.
The Healthy Babies Healthy Business Web site www.marchofdimes.com/hbhb provides company intranets and wellness programs with the latest high-quality pregnancy and newborn health information at no cost.
Thousands of visitors access our family website, http://www.shareyourstory.org/ to share their stories, participate in online discussions about premature babies, and meet other NICU families.
The March of Dimes Virginia Chapter sponsored three press events to announce the 2009 Virginia Prematurity Report Card which were held in critical care hospitals and hosted by members of the Virginia Senate. Click here for the story!
Through Lunch and Learns, private OB-Gyn practices receive information about late brain development and the importance of term deliveries. Contact our Director of Program Services Sara Long to schedule a Lunch and Learn at your practice!
The March of Dimes would like to see every state screen newborns for the full panel of 29 disorders. Do you know how many we screen for in Virginia? Click here for the full story.
Our Virginia professionals are also encouraged to visit www.marchofdimes.com/professionals where they can find other resources, tools and information.
Premature birth in the NEWS - Click on any of the articles below for recent media reports concerning prematurity:
1. In-between babies not out of the woods, federal report says
2. NCHS releases data report on late preterm birth babies
3. Prematurity Awareness Day events in Virginia get outstanding media coverage
See how well our Chapter Community Grants performed in 2008: 2008 Chapter Community Grants Outcomes Report The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish language Web site at nacersano.org.
For further information about the March of Dimes mission and our Programs, please contact our Director of Program Services Sara Long , (804)968-4120. |
