Mid-Term Service Learning Posting

My service learning site is the Eastern Shore of Maryland Chapter of the March of Dimes.  It is located in Salisbury, Maryland just down the street from where I practice professionally in the NICU. 

Historically, the March of Dimes began as Franklin Delano Roosevelt's project to fight polio.  Later, the mission's focus changed to fighting prematurity and birth defects.  The March of Dimes current mission statement is "we help moms have full-term pregnancies and research the problems that threaten the health of babies" (March of Dimes, 2011). 

The clients are premature infants and infants with birth defects and their families.  The March of Dimes provides funds, advocacy and health/wellness programs, such as their folic acid campaign.  They also advocate for access to health coverage and were central in the reauthorization of the Childen's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) on a federal level (March of Dimes, 2011). 

The agency obtains funding through private donations, fundraising efforts and sponsorships from many organizations.  Our facility is a huge sponsor for our area chapter.  The Signature Chef's Auction, Bikers for Babies and March for Babies all raise funds via their sponsors and events. 

I am called to work for this organization because I see the affects on families and friends each and every day that I am practicing my profession in the NICU.  The families and friends struggle to understand why their baby was born early or with a profound birth defect.  Many birth defects can be prevented, such as neural tube defects, with simple health and wellness initiatives that many are unable to obtain for a variety of reasons.  Socioeconomic, immigration and insurance status plays a significant role in access to care.  On a state and federal level the March of Dimes advocates for smoking cessation, alcohol and substance abuse prevention, immunizations, preconception care, prenatal care, supplemental food programs, folic acid use, and environmental/hazard protection (March of Dimes, 2011). 

My passion is in advocacy, prevention and research for this wonderful organization.  I would like to see preventable birth defects from ever happening and a significant reduction in prematurity.  As of this moment, our nation scores a "D" in premature birth rates.  That is completely unacceptable in the world's most powerful country. 

Currently, I am a supporter, volunteer and professional for this organization.  I have been active with the March of Dimes since 1999.  I have been a guest speaker twice for the annual "Lighting" event to spotlight prematurity and its impact on the families in our community.  I have raised funds and have organized walkathon teams.  Currently, I am involved in the kick-off celebrations for the two local March for Babies walks.  I have spent over 10 hours making 24 t-shirts with puff paint that are individualized with the baby's name and birthweight, plus a unique design to be displayed at the two kick-off events and the two walks.  It has spurred on the family members to join our walk, so I have recruited teams as a by-product of the t-shirt making.  All of the babies have been NICU graduates at my facility.  I will be helping at both the kick-off events and both the walks.  In the next 3 months, I will log about 40 hours of service time to this organization.  I am committed to the March of Dimes for as long as I am able to contribute.  Along with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, it is my service passion of choice.  Efforts on behalf of this organization are seen at the local, state, national and global level.  I am proud to be able to contribute!

Angie Houck

Reference: 
March of Dimes.  (2011).  Retrieved from, http://www.marchofdimes.com/

18 and counting...

In gearing up for the March of Dimes kick-off for the March for Babies, I have made 18 t-shirts for display at the Moose Lodge on March 2nd.  The kick-off will showcase these t-shirts with names and birthweights of our local preemies that were born at our facility.  Peninsula Regional Medical Center is an avid supporter of the March of Dimes mission, and as an employee of the Medical Center and a supporter of the March of Dimes, it has been an honor to make these shirts on our babies' behalf. 

The parents of the babies have given their consent to have their first name and birthweight displayed at the two local kick-off events and the two March for Babies walks.  The shirts are individualized with cute designs and celebrate their birth.  Our NICU families are all excited about this endeavor and several have committed to walking in the April 17 or May 7 events! 

I still have 6 shirts not decorated, so there is still more work to do!

Angie

T-shirts for Tots

I am very excited because next week we are going to have a parent/sibling arts and crafts workshop for our event kick-off March 2nd.  Each year, the March of Dimes (MOD) has two walks on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, one in Salisbury and one in Assateague.  These walks are launched with a local kick-off ceremony in Salisbury and one at our hospital facility.  I will be helping out with both. 

This year, our NICU families who would like to participate and our staff (two of whom have prior preemies, themselves) will decorate onsies with puff paint celebrating the birth of their daughter or son.  Siblings will be encouraged to help, too.  The onsies can be decorated in any way, first names or initials only, birth weight, etc.  They will then be used to decorate our walk tents. 

It is so much fun to engage our families in this, especially the little brothers and sisters of these special babies.  The MOD is dedicated to funding research for prematurity.  This is one way to raise awareness and impact the future health of our babies right here at home.

Angie