For this semester, I am continuing my service learning with the March of Dimes, Eastern Shore Division out of Salisbury, Maryland. This agency, as described in previous posts, is an advocate for the health and well-being of new babies and their families. There main focus is with prematurity and birth defects and to eradicate them in our lifetime. The clients include mothers, infants and families in the communities we serve. The agency is funded by private donations, corporate fundraising and events that bring public and private donations such as the March for Babies, Signature Chef's Auction and Bikers for Babies events.
The experiences for me include assisting in fundraising events. I help out in any capacity in the 3 March for Babies events, plus one other summer fundraiser coming up in August. My duties might include setting up tables, centerpieces, making t-shirts, face-painting, first aid station, clean-up and other duties as assigned. I am totally dedicated to the March of Dimes and have been for almost 12 years. I also represent our unit as a team leader and a speaker at the Light the Night event in November, the national prematurity awareness day. The objectives for my service learning experience are advocacy, volunteerism, awareness and community support.
Sunday, Mother's Day, was the last March for Babies for 2011. It was held at Assateauge Island National Seashore in Maryland. It was a beautiful day filled with sunshine and smiles. Over 250 walkers raised money for prematurity and birth defects research and advocacy. I manned the Mardi Gras table, giving out beads and helping families make t-shirts for the baby they were walking for. I also helped with the first aid station which was right next to my table. Luckily, we only had a few bandaid for blisters patients! Of course, my population is vulnerable because they are infants and children, they are underserved because prematurity is still very much a problem in our country and the world and they are diverse. Prematurity and birth defects know no racial, gender or socioeconomic boundaries. Families are rich, poor, black, white, male and female. We have made headway of preventable birth defects, such as neural tube defects with the widespread use of folic acid, but there are still other birth defects to research that could also be prevented.
The DNP is poised to promote health and wellness as a change agent and researcher. The DNP role is about advancing evidence-based practice in a changing health care climate. We can lead by example, practice by using the evidence and educate by role modeling. I see my role as one of mentor and coach. Already, two of my fellow colleagues are in school to obtain their Master's Degrees and two others obtained national certification in NICU. My mentor is a role model and my goal is to pay it forward!
I plan to move forward with my service learning through my capstone project, which relates to the Late Preterm Infant. I hope to be the local March of Dimes advocate for community awareness to the public, private and health care sectors of our service areas. Thank you for your interest and comments to this blog.
Angie Houck
0958383
Peninsula Regional Medical Center 2012 Team Walk T-shirt
