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The History of Healthy Mothers, Healthy Baby's
Coalition...
The National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB)
began in 1981, prompted by the U.S. Surgeon General's
conference on infant mortality. Six lead organizations;
the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
(AGOC), the March of Dimes, the American Academy of
Pediatrics, the American Nurses Association, the
National Congress of Parents and Teachers, and the U.S.
Public Health Service, established the informal
coalition to improve the quality and reach of public and
professional education related to prenatal and infant
care. HMHB reaches an estimated one million health care
professionals, parents and policymakers through it's
membership of over 100 local, state and national
organizations.
Enhanced by a network of Healthy Mothers, Healthy
Babies state and local coalitions, HMHB acts as a
catalyst for change and creates partnerships among
community groups, nonprofit organizations, professional
associations, businesses and government agencies. By
promoting optimal health for mom and baby, HMHB works to
strengthen families and build healthy communities.
Epidemiological statistics have historically found that
a disparity exists in several key PPOR (Perinatal
Periods of Risk) factors corresponding to the infant
mortality rate in the Maryvale area of West Phoenix. To
address these issues the Maryvale Coalition was
established in partnership with Maricopa County Healthy
Mothers, Healthy Babies.
The Maryvale Coalition project known as It’s a
Baby’s Life…was initiated to
mobilize the community to actively participate in an
awareness and education
campaign. Women’s and infant’s health and safety efforts
have been addressed
from several aspects:
• Legislative framework-introduction of FIMR
to state legislators.
• Political awareness and support-active
participation and statements of
support by local politicians
• Administrative organization-community-based
project management,
facilitation and “mobilizers” and mentoring, funding and
research partnerships
with Maricopa County Department of Public Health
Maternal, Child, and Family
Health Division
• Existing perceptions and attitudes-public
awareness of existing behavior
patterns, healthcare, life skills and family resources and
information
regarding lifestyle interventions distributed through businesses,
churches,
schools, day care centers, medical providers, civic organizations,
neighborhood groups and local government agencies
During the evaluation period, (2002) “It’s a Baby’s
Life…” Project held nine
monthly coalition meetings. Coalition membership
included subject matter experts from the field of
maternal and infant health and safety and community and
government representatives. A community-wide project
“kick-off” meeting to introduce the project and PPOR
data was attended by over fifty coalition members,
community residents, and business and political leaders.
A community leader was hired to manage the project and
the activities of the community mobilizers.
Currently, mobilizers attend a two phase training
session and are assigned to work with the various
components of the community.
Grant funding from the Virginia G. Piper and St. Luke’s
Health Initiatives has
provided financial support for project administration,
research and statistics,
project management, mobilizer stipends, mobilizer
training, printing, basic office
supplies and resource materials.
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