March of Dimes awards grant to Healthy Start of North Central Florida

MARCH OF DIMES AWARDS GRANT TO HEALTHY START OF NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA TO HELP IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF MOTHERS AND BABIES

March of Dimes
Healthy Start of North Central Florida

March of Dimes, whose mission is to improve the health of babies, is pleased to advance maternal and infant health by supporting Healthy Start of North Central Florida, Inc. with a $16,000.00 community service grant. This community service grant will enhance the UF Health CenteringPregnancy® program and establish the UF Health CenteringParenting® program as an innovative way of caring for pregnant mothers, newborns and families during the first year of life. UF Health’s Department of OBGYN will facilitate CenteringPregnancy® while UF Health’s Department of Pediatrics will facilitate CenteringParenting®.

CenteringPregnancy® is group prenatal care bringing women due at the same time out of exam rooms and into a comfortable group setting. Pregnant women meet with their prenatal care provider for a health assessment and participate in an interactive group discussion.

CenteringParenting® is a family centered way to provide care for moms, babies, and families. Babies receive their well-child health assessment, immunizations and developmental screenings. Parents and babies will then participate in an interactive group discussion on topics such as attachment, safe sleep, early literacy, etc.

The March of Dimes funds programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies. This includes financial support to research and education that will help moms before and during their pregnancies. It also includes working with local medical groups and organizations to improve prenatal care and newborn screening. In 2016, March of Dimes awarded $16,000 to community agencies throughout Florida.

“This community service grant allows us to further our efforts with the UF Health CenteringPregnancy® program while allowing us to establish the new UF Health CenteringParenting® piece. The impact that these programs will make on our preterm birth rates in Alachua County is sure to be a positive one,” said Julie Moderie, Program Director.

“The potential impact for the Healthy Start of North Central Florida Coalition will help us prevent premature births, birth defects and infant mortality,” said Dr. Karen Harris, March of Dimes Maternal and Child Health Committee Chair. “We are pleased that our successful fundraising efforts, such as March for Babies, make it possible for us to support this new, locally focused effort to help give every baby a fighting chance.”

The Healthy Start of North Central Florida Coalition has been operating for over 25 years and was established to address the high infant mortality rates and poor birth outcomes within the 12 county geographical area of North Central Florida. The Coalition strives to increase community education and awareness of Healthy Start and its impact on maternal, infant and child health. The mission of the Coalition is “to maintain a comprehensive healthcare system and support services for pregnant women and infants.” The Coalition strives to accomplish this mission through strong community partnerships with private and public sectors, maternal and child health providers, and consumers of services.

About the March of Dimes
The March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook at @marchofdimesflorida, Twitter at @marchofdimesfl, and Instagram at @marchofdimesflorida.