2010 - 2011 Annual Report - North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation

MAJOR INITIATIVES
PrEgNANCY ANd PArENtiNg
e Foundation’s charter campaign, First Step, is the cornerstone of our outreach efforts
to promote healthy lifestyles for women of childbearing age. Since 1990, the messages of
this campaign have promoted the importance of healthy lifestyles for women before,
during and after pregnancy and the use of appropriate medical services to effectively
reduce infant deaths. Current projects include:
the Friendship Project: This community-based, volunteer program offers a way for
local groups, such as churches, sororities and community organizations, to provide social
support for pregnant women.
Young Moms Connect: Using television, radio, the internet and social media, this
project’s goal is to support pregnant and parenting teens and young women. Newly
developed services include a website www.youngmomsconnect.org and a NC-based
texting response service.
Latino Health Campaign: Created to serve the large Spanish speaking population in our
state, this campaign provides educational messages and materials created specifically for
this population, a website (www.mamasana.org), and trainings for bilingual health
professionals. The Foundation’s statewide Latino Advisory Group is critical to identifying
priority health issues and developing culturally and linguistically appropriate information.
WOMEN’S HEALtH
Because more than half of infant deaths can be attributed to the mother’s
health, it is critical that we focus on the health of women of reproductive
age. Our women’s health initiative promotes healthy lifestyles and offers
resources. ese include: My Health Journey, a DVD for women to learn
from others about ways to improve their health, and My Health Journal, a
workbook where women can record their medical appointments and test
results, learn about good health practices and document their personal goals.
At the agency level, the riCHES Project (resources in Communities Help
Encourage Solutions) has convened a 500+ member network of
community-based organizations already serving women of childbearing
age. Funded by the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation,
RICHES provides training, resources and networking opportunities to
increase local agencies’ capacity to encourage and support healthpromoting
behaviors among the women of reproductive age that
they serve.
4