2010 - 2011 Annual Report - North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation

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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
iNFANt SAFE SLEEP Since 1994, the NC Back to Sleep infant Safe Sleep Campaign (formerly the NC Back to Sleep Campaign) has informed families, childcare providers, health and social service providers and policymakers about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and ways to reduce its risk. is campaign focuses on the importance of a safe sleep environment and practices such as breastfeeding, that reduce the risk of SIDS. is campaign includes training of healthcare providers and awards those institutions enacting safe sleep practices through: HOPES (Hospital Outreach and Partnerships Educating about infant Safe Sleep): An outreach effort to increase the number of hospitals in NC that develop and institutionalize evidenced based, safe sleep practices in newborn nurseries, neonatal intensive care units and pediatric units. BESSt (Baby’s Easy Safe Sleep training and toolkit): A two-hour “train-the-trainer” session designed to help health and human service professionals and community leaders reduce the risk of SIDS in their area. infant Safe Sleep Hospital Model of Excellence Award: Started in Spring 2011, this award recognizes hospitals demonstrating adoption of best practices in the areas of policy, staff training and education, patient education and modeling and community outreach. CHiLd HEALtH iNSurANCE Since 1998, the Foundation’s Health Check/NC Health Choice Outreach Campaign has increased the number of North Carolina children with publicly funded health insurance. One strategy educates parents about insurance options for their children when they apply for unemployment benefits through the Employment Security Commission. In FY 10-11, the Foundation continued its involvement with the NC Pediatric Society Foundation’s Healthy and Ready to Learn Project and supported this federally funded, school-based initiative to enroll eligible kindergarteners in publicly funded health insurance. Another focused effort resulted in program information available in many of North Carolina’s immigrant communities. Program descriptions are available in 13 languages and distributed throughout the state. e Medical Home component of this campaign educates families on the benefits of getting their children preventive, acute and chronic health care through one consistent place and how to make the most of every doctor’s visit. 5
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2010 - 2011 Annual Report - North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation

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