Tuesday, May 15, 2007

March of Dimes grant will bring teen pregnancy outreach to Hispanic girls

The Tennessean reports here that a new March of Dimes grant will bring the Birthing Project's teen pregnancy outreach to Hispanic girls.

"The girls are paired with volunteers, called 'sister friends,' who go with them to doctor's appointments, talk to them about staying in school, offer parenting tips and occasionally head into the delivery room."

"The babies of teenage mothers in Tennessee are often born too early and too light, weighing less than 6 pounds. It's why many of them don't live to see their first birthdays."

"Studies show teenagers often have poorer pregnancies than adults because they may be unhealthy before they get pregnant, are less likely to get prenatal care early and their bodies aren't always ready for the tremendous burden of carrying a fetus to term. In Tennessee, the rates of teen pregnancy have been creeping up since 2001, after a brief decline."

"There are nearly 20 girls in Nashville's program now, and the focus is on black teens between the ages of 14 and 19, but participation isn't limited by race. The results have been encouraging."

"This month, the March of Dimes will award Nashville's Birthing Project a grant to add more girls and provide outreach to Hispanic girls."

Photo by Omar Junior

1 comment:

  1. March of Dimes Team YouthJanuary 24, 2008 at 1:01 PM

    WalkAmerica is now March for Babies!

    You may have heard the news…March of Dimes has changed the name of our signature event, WalkAmerica. It’s now called March for Babies. Our new name makes it very clear who we’re walking for ― all babies.

    Help your readers stay informed. Please update your blog with the new name and logo anywhere the WalkAmerica event is mentioned…every mention of our new event name helps spread the word about our name change and our new look.

    Visit our Web site at www.marchforbabies.org/SpreadtheWord for our new logo and other materials to help us spread the word.

    While our event name is different, our mission remains the same. March of Dimes is still the champion for babies – raising funds needed for research and programs that make a difference in the lives of babies and their families.

    We appreciate your interest in the March of Dimes. Please don’t hesitate to e-mail our Media Representative mediainquiries@marchofdimes.com if you have any questions about our new name or our event.

    One day all babies will be born healthy, but we have to walk to get there.

    Thank you,
    March for Babies Team

    P.S. To read the March for Babies launch release, please visit here: http://www.marchofdimes.com/aboutus/22663_28214.asp

    March of Dimes Foundation
    1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
    White Plains, NY 10605

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