FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: March 21, 2007
Contact:
Vivian Muzyk
(919) 828-1819
Coastal Health Professionals Become Next Step for Mom Advisors
Women’s Health Workshop
(Raleigh, NC) – Yesterday, nine Brunswick, New Hanover and Richmond county health professionals were trained in ways to improve women's health after pregnancy. The North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation, a statewide non-profit, conducted the two - hour workshop titled Next Step for Mom at the New Hanover Public Library in Wilmington.
Next Step for Mom program coordinator Janice Bailiff provided participants with tools to help post-partum women set and track health goals, such as stress reduction and healthy eating and physical activity. Participants were also provided with information and strategies to help women make informed decisions about alcohol, tobacco and drug use, including safe use of over-the-counter drugs.
"The goal of the project is to increase women's knowledge and practice of behaviors that affect their emotional and physical health," says Bailiff. "Increasing the health of N.C. women increases the likelihood that Tar Heel babies will be born healthy."
As part of the training, participating clinics and programs received free health education tools such as the Foundation’s nationally-recognized "Taking Care of Me," a post-partum women's self-help guide and "Next Steps for Healthy Living," a three-month interactive health chart. Participants also received "Mom’s Pledge Card," cards designed to remind women of their commitment to take the "Next Step."
"We encourage participants to use these tools to reach out to women in home, clinic and community settings," says Bailiff. "We also provide some funding and planning assistance to help those community efforts."
Participants from health departments included, from Brunswick County: Pauline H. Smith, Sylvia Ford, Tracy McElroy, Teresa A. Joyner and Tamela Jones; New Hanover County: Antonette A. Hansley, Alice Humphrey, and Jill Morris; Richmond County, Shirlyn Smith.
For additional information about Next Step for Mom visit the www.NCHealthyStart.org. For women’s health information, referrals or support services call the NC Family Health Resource Line at 1-800-FOR-BABY. Next Step for Mom training and materials are funded by the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust and the N.C. Division of Public Health.
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The N.C. Healthy Start Foundation, a
nonprofit organization established in 1990, conducts
ongoing public education campaigns, advises state and
local policy makers, and provides technical assistance
and professional training focused on reducing infant
death and illness and improving the health of women
and young children in N.C.
