FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Christine Rogers
(919) 256-9593
New initiative to decrease northeastern N.C.’s unplanned pregnancy rate and improve infant health
(Raleigh, NC) – A new initiative aimed at helping people make positive lifestyle changes that contribute to having healthier families is getting underway in northeastern North Carolina. The two year initiative will include community outreach and trainings in six targeted counties. Resources for the First Time Motherhood/New Parent Initiative will be focused in the counties of Edgecombe, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Nash and Northampton.
One of the goals of the campaign is to reduce the rate of unplanned pregnancies in northeastern North Carolina. According to the N.C. Center for Health Statistics, the number of births to mothers under the age of 18 was nearly 50% higher in this region than any other part of the state. In addition, reports show that women living in these six counties are less likely to seek prenatal care in the first trimester than other women living in North Carolina. The lack of planning and spacing of children is associated with health problems for mothers and babies. In addition, some couples may also be engaging in harmful behaviors such as tobacco and drug use. Some may also be overweight, have poor eating habits or suffer from chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, obesity or diabetes. All of these factors could put babies at risk for preterm birth, low birthweight or stillbirth.
The First Time Motherhood/New Parent Initiative has branded its community outreach and training efforts with the messages, "Are You Ready?" and "What’s Your Plan?". Soul 92 Jams, Power 95.5, Foxy 107/104, 107.3 The Promise, and 103 JAMZ will air public service announcements within the six targeted counties. Television ads will also launch this month on Fox 50, CW22 and MyRDC and will be featured on cable networks such as BET, MTV, and VH-1. In addition, community trainings will be conducted throughout the six counties and will reach out to both faith-based and community-based organizations. The goal for these trainings is to recruit and train individuals to become community health coaches. The two training programs are The Temple Project and Ready, Set, Plan!
TheTemple Project is faith-based and will focus on training pastors and members of churches on topics related to spiritual, mental, physical and reproductive health. The Ready, Set, Plan! project is community-based and will focus on training healthcare providers and members of the community on topics related to general, emotional and reproductive health. Trainings will be offered during August and September 2009.
The initiative is part of an interagency collaborative between the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, N.C. Healthy Start Foundation, NC Family Health Resource Line, Center for Health and Healing, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services and UNC Center for Maternal and Infant Health. Funding to support and develop the First Time Motherhood/ New Parent Initiative comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau. For more information on this initiative or to learn how to become a community health coach, visit www.NCHealthyStart.org.
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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 North Carolina.
