Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104900

Scott D. Berns, MD, MPH¹, Jennifir L. Birtwhistle, MA², Sabine Jean-Walker, MA¹, Leslie Kowalewski³, Keith Nash, BA⁴, Elise Linden Antrobus, MSW⁵, Mary Ann Henson, MSN⁶, and Marina L. Weiss, PhD². (1) National Office, March of Dimes, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605, 914-997-4705, sberns@marchofdimes.com, (2) Office of Government Affairs, March of Dimes, 1146 19th Street, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20036, (3) Northern California Chapter, March of Dimes, 1050 Sansome 4th FL., San Francisco, CA 94111, (4) California Chapter, March of Dimes, 1755 Creekside Oaks, Suite 120, Sacramento, CA 95833, (5) Georgia Chapter, March of Dimes, 1776 Peachtree Street, NW, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30309, (6) 11-272, Office of Infant and Child Health Services, 2 Peachtree Street, NW, Atlanta, GA 30303

Objective: To provide an overview of how March of Dimes Chapters and their partners are successful in both advocating for expanded newborn screening and implementing public and health professional education programs.

Background: The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. For over 30 years, as part of its mission, The March of Dimes has worked to establish and strengthen newborn screening programs. A number of serious disorders can be identified shortly after birth through newborn screening and when treated early can prevent mortality, morbidity, and long-term disability. The Foundation supports newborn screening programs when there is a documented benefit to the child and there is a reliable test that enables early detection. March of Dimes Chapters, along with their partners, work closely with governors, state legislators, health departments, health professionals, and parents to improve state newborn screening programs.

By linking advocacy efforts with education of the public and health professionals, March of Dimes Chapters are working to make comprehensive newborn screening programs available to every newborn throughout the country. This presentation will illustrate how March of Dimes Chapters use advocacy and education efforts to improve states' newborn screening programs.

At the conclusion of this session, the participant (learner) will be able to: 1. Identify effective strategies to advocate for comprehensive newborn screening; and 2. Articulate how to create and execute a successful newborn screening education initiative that targets parents and health professionals.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant (learner) will be able to

• Identify effective strategies to advocate for comprehensive newborn screening; and
• Articulate how newborn screening advocacy success can be transformed into effective community programs

Keywords: Neonatal Screening, Public Health Advocacy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commertial supporters WITH THE EXCEPTION OF I am employed by The March of Dimes.

Recorded presentation