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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Suzanne Herron, RN, NP, C, MPH and Sonia Cruz, BSW. Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, 2500 McClellan Boulevard, Suite 110, Pennsauken, NJ 08109, 1-856-665-6000, sherron@snjpc.org
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Atlantic City (HBMHBAC), the recipient of a Healthy Start grant to address racial disparities in infant mortality, provides outreach, case management services and community and individual education to pregnant women and young families in Atlantic City New Jersey. HMHBAC is a program of the Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, a licensed Maternal Child Health Consortium. HMHBAC outreach staff realized that many of their clients and families did not have a social support network that would organize a baby shower for them. In order to help these women celebrate the impending birth of their babies, HMHBAC invited 30 first time mothers to a Community Baby Shower. This daylong event interspersed traditional baby shower games with more formal presentations on health issues, such as choosing a pediatrician, newborn care, infant feeding choices, and nutrition during pregnancy. Participants were encouraged to enroll in childbirth classes. Community agencies participated by providing speakers or take home information. HMHBAC members contributed door prizes and nutritious foods were offered throughout the day. The Baby Safety Shower was a follow-up event that addressed home safety issues and infant development topics. Fathers were welcomed at both events. Both showers were well received and participant evaluations were taken into consideration when planning subsequent events.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.