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Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Pamela B. Harper, MPH, Judith Gooding, BA, and James Soohoo, MA. March of Dimes, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605, 914-997-4455, pharper@marchofdimes.com

Share Your Story is an online community for families with a baby in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The March of Dimes launched the site in the fall of 2004. As of February 2006, over 8,500 persons had registered on the site; in 2005, the site had 36,900 unique visitors. Share Your Story assists current NICU families, families who are at home with their baby or child, and families who have lost a baby. Members share stories, blog, post queries, request information, and support each other through online discussions. The March of Dimes moderates the site, maintains the technical infrastructure, and provides health education and links to additional support. This presentation will describe the community, how it works, the financial and staff resources required to build and maintain it, and its posting guidelines and standards. Among other topics discussed will be promotion and marketing of the site, the role of active users in the community, lessons learned, the most popular discussion topics, and the importance of cross-departmental collaboration in the development and sustainability of Share Your Story.

Learning Objectives: