PREMATURE IS NOT JUST SMALL
The St. Joseph County, Indiana WIC Program designed a project to promote awareness of the rise in prematurity and educate participants about these issues. Seven-month gestation age (GA) fetus replica dolls were purchased from NASCO and displayed in each WIC nutritionist’s office. Along with the replica doll, a poster was displayed listing possible health problems for infants born before seven months GA, at seven months GA and at eight months GA. March of Dimes pamphlets “Know the Signs of Premature Labor” and Folic Acid pamphlets were also available. Refrigerator magnets listing the warning signs of premature labor were also produced and given to prenatal participants. WIC nutritionists have reported that this display has generated questions and discussion with WIC participants regarding prematurity and the importance of a full-tern delivery. The display has been made available to WIC breastfeeding counselors and Prenatal Care Coordinators for use in their classes or at other appropriate events.
For more information, please contact nreiter@memorialsb.org
This project was funded by the March of Dimes
more information...
2 - Harvesting a Safe Environment During Pregnancy
As part of this conference, Dr. Boushey will present on "Folic Acid: It's More than a Fad. more information...
3 - Midwest Breast Fest 2004
Saturday, August 7, 2004, 10-3, Century Center, South Bend.
Folic Acid Campaign will have a booth
Contact Nancy Meyer for more information more information...
4 - Terre Haute - Health Fair
A health fair was planned in Terre Haute in conjunction with the March 2004 videoconference. more information...
5 - Prematurity/Folic Acid Folder Project
In 2003, St. Joseph County WIC in South Bend, Indiana received a Community Awards grant from the March of Dimes for a project to provide written information on prematurity and on folic acid to WIC clients
The pamphlets were given to clients in a pocket portfolio with a specially designed cover to encourage clients to keep and read the information. The portfolios and pamphlets were available in English and Spanish and clients were encouraged to use the portfolio to organize all their WIC materials.
Prematurity pamphlets in Spanish and English were purchased from the March of Dimes and folic acid pamphlets were ordered from the March of Dimes and the CDC. The portfolio cover was designed by WIC staff. 3,000 portfolios are being distributed to WIC families when they come to the WIC clinic for certification appointments. more information...
6 - Folic Acid T-shirt Project
In 2002, St. Joseph County WIC in South Bend, Indiana received a Community Awards grant form the March of Dimes to buy t-shirts for prenatal WIC clients. The t-shirts were printed with a specially designed message in Spanish and English to promote intake of folic acid-rich foods (see picture).
Clients earned a t-shirt if they were taking a folic acid supplement and completed the questionnaire attached. If a client was not taking folic acid, she was given another opportunity to ear a t-shirt at the next WIC clinic visit. Answers to the questionnaire did not need to be correct as the questions were designed to be a teaching tool. 275 t-shirts were distributed more information...
Contact: Donna Vandergraff, Phone: 765-494-8228, E-mail: vandergraff@purdue.edu
Funded by Folic Acid Council grant from March of Dimes.
