1. Give or continue to give financially to food distribution centers (ie. Table, Food  Banks , Schools —Continuing to feed our children at this time is critical). Additionally, food pantries/banks/centers are experiencing not only increased demand for food but are getting increased inquiries about cleaning supplies and diapers.  
   
2. Volunteer to help children with school work who are in the hospital (one on one virtually).
   
3. Encourage members and the community to donate blood, if possible.  Blood donation is needed as supplies are at a critically low level.  Contact www.redcrossblood.org for an appointment.
   
4. The budgets of early education and childcare centers that are open or that might be re-opening are under heavy strain.  Some centers may now have older children all day so ask them about items that may be needed for those children (Never gift a center without consulting the director or site manager.)  Check to see what needs centers might have and then discuss how your club might help meet those needs. Consider giving gift cards to providers.   Consider an appropriate socially distant fundraiser.
   
5. Advocate with your local and state elected officials urging them to support early education/childcare.  With government budgets at all levels under heavy stress, many will view early education/childcare as an easy target unless they hear from groups like Kiwanis.
   
6. Support school aged students kids who depend on 2 or even 3 meals a day at school.  Reach to your local district and ask them how to help.
   
7. Offer parents who might be suffering from new stresses the opportunity to have support by organizing discussion and sharing groups. 
   
8. Child abuse could be on the rise.  Contact local agencies to see if there is some way you can help them reach out – like manning a phone help line.
   
9. Set up programs explaining (with cool analogies and graphics) COVID-19 to kids, especially when a second wave later in the summer sounds likely:  https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth graphics/2020/03/20/coronavirus-kids-has-changed-            everything/2864140001/
   
10. Consider sponsoring a community Vroom session.  Early learning can happen anywhere, anytime, and parents, are you looking for FREE and easy to access resources? #Vroom has 1,000+ creative and fun ways to add learning to mealtime, bath time, bedtime, and more. You already have what it takes to be a brain builder! For more Vroom Tips, to download the Vroom App, or to sign up for Vroom By Text visit: https://www.vroom.org/
    
11. The following link shares Remote learning resources for preschool through middle school age children from Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA: https://www.tuftsmedicalcenter.org/news%20events%20media/news/web/covid%2019/remote%20learning?fbclid=iwar34eo-zvto7kdvmyaut9jtyqtnv6voyfxeellrod84zkcdsxrmeg0akzyy
    
12. Help your own members. Set up a “system” in your own club to make sure members and their families have the support and materials they need.

Good morning fellow Kiwanians!

This month I will focus on the importance of immunizations for young children.

MEASLES CASES IN 2019

From January 1 to December 31, 2019, 1,282 individual cases of measles were confirmed in 31 states. Of these cases, 128 were hospitalized and 61 reported having complications, including pneumonia and encephalitis.

INCREASE IN WHOOPING COUGH (PERTUSSIS)

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.

Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After cough fits, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breaths, which result in a “whooping” sound. Pertussis can affect people of all ages, but can be very serious, even deadly, for babies less than a year old.

The best way to protect against pertussis is by getting vaccinated. During the 1980s pertussis reports began increasing gradually, and by 2018 more than 15,000 cases were reported.

WHY VACCINATE YOUNG CHILDREN?

Immunizations can save a child’s life. Because of advances in medical science, a child can be protected against more diseases than ever before. Some diseases that once injured or killed thousands of children, have been eliminated completely and others are close to extinction– primarily due to safe and effective vaccines. Polio is one example of the great impact that vaccines have had in the United States. Polio was once America’s most-feared disease, causing death and paralysis across the country, but today, thanks to vaccination, there are no reports of polio in the United States.

Maternal neonatal tetanus deaths are greatly diminished due to the increase of the tetanus vaccine being made available through the world.

MNT ELIMINATE PROGRAM SPONSORED BY KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNICEF has saved hundreds of thousands of lives by providing vaccinations to women and young children.

Vaccination is very safe and effective. 

Vaccines are only given to children after a long and careful review by scientists, doctors, and healthcare professionals. Vaccines will involve some discomfort and may cause pain, redness, or tenderness at the site of injection but this is minimal compared to the pain, discomfort, and trauma of the diseases these vaccines prevent. Serious side effects following vaccination, such as severe allergic reaction, are very rare. The disease-prevention benefits of getting vaccines are much greater than the possible side effects for almost all children.

There is NO link between autism and childhood vaccines, a major new study finds.

The systematic international review, first of its kind, conducted by University of Sydney researchers

“No statistical data to support a link between vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough and the development of autism or autism spectrum disorders.”(www.myasdf.org)

Immunization protects others 

 Children in the U.S. still get vaccine-preventable diseases. In fact, there has been a resurgence of measles and whooping cough (pertussis) over the past few years. Since 2010, there have been between 10,000 and 50,000 cases of whooping cough each year in the United States and about 10 to 20 babies, many of which were too young to be fully vaccinated, died each year. While some babies are too young to be protected by vaccination, others may not be able to receive certain vaccinations due to severe allergies, weakened immune systems from conditions like leukemia, or other reasons. To help keep them safe, it is important that all who are able to get vaccinated are fully immunized.  This not only protects those who are vaccinated but also helps prevent the spread of these diseases to others around them.

Immunizations can save time and money. 

A child with a vaccine-preventable disease can be denied attendance at schools or child care facilities. Some vaccine-preventable diseases can result in prolonged disabilities and can take a financial toll because of lost time at work, medical bills or long-term disability care. In contrast, getting vaccinated against these diseases is a good investment and usually covered by insurance. The Vaccines for Children program is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children from low-income families.

Immunizations protect future generations

Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases that killed or severely disabled people just a few generations ago. For example, smallpox vaccination eradicated that disease worldwide. Your children don’t have to get smallpox shots any more because the disease no longer exists. By vaccinating children against rubella (German measles), the risk that pregnant women will pass this virus on to their fetus or newborn has been dramatically decreased, and birth defects associated with that virus no longer are seen in the United States. If we continue vaccinating now, and vaccinating completely, parents in the future may be able to trust that some diseases of today will no longer be around to harm their children in the future.

National Infant Immunization Week(NIIW)

April 20 – May 3, 2020

(NIIW) was established to raise the profile of the infant immunization program in the United States.

Infant immunization protects people from vaccine-preventable diseases throughout their life.

NIIW is also a time to appreciate and celebrate the achievements immunization programs have had in promoting good health. Supported by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the first National Infant Immunization Week took place in 1994.

While aspects of the campaign may differ each year, the message behind this week is always, ‘Love Them. Protect Them. Immunize Them’ and parents are encouraged or reminded to have their children immunized by the age of 2. 

For more information about National Infant Immunization Week, visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw/index.html.

For more information about the importance of infant immunization, visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines.

Consequences Of Not Immunizing Infants

If infants are not immunized the consequences can be severe. Disease often brings economic and social costs, misspent time and resources visiting doctors, hospitalizations and poor child and educational development. These consequences are in addition to any of the direct physical symptoms and problems associated with a given condition. Also in some cases a disease can be fatal.

WHAT CAN KIWANIANS DO TO HELP?

Spread the word to friends and family about the importance of vaccinations.

To get materials go to www.cdcp.gov

Materials to Share (Resources to share with the public)

To view easy-to-read immunization schedules, an immunization tracker, videos, listicles, infographics, fact sheets, PSAs, print ads, and posters, go to Vaccine Resources for Parents.

Share these materials with your audiences by:

• Linking to them from your website
• Sharing them via your social media channels

Kiwanians can make a difference in a child’s well-being if we take the time to share this important information

Ava Adams, District Chair
Young Children Committee
Member, Young Children International Committee
Scarborough Maine Kiwanis
New England and Bermuda District
email: [email protected]

Good Morning Fellow Kiwanians!

UPDATE READING CORNER IN LAUNDROMAT PROJECT IN NEW ENGLAND DISTRICT IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO ESTABLISH A READING CORNER!

The Manchester New Hampshire Club has established a Reading Corner in a local laundromat. Thank you to Laura Schneider-Nesmith and Marilyn Charbonneau for their work in getting the project up and running smoothly.

A Reading Corner has been set up in a local laundromat in Caribou, Maine with the help of a $200 grant from the Kiwanis a Foundation of New England. Thank you to Bill Francis and Club members for their work in maintaining this project. I’ve been told that this Reading Corner is so successful, that the owner of the laundromat has asked the club to set up a Reading Corner in another local laundromat. Kudos to club members!

• The Mt. Washington Valley Kiwanis Club has set up a Reading Corner in a waiting area at their local hospital emergency room area. Kiwanians are innovative, and they modify projects to meet the needs of their communities. Kudos to Janice Andrews and Club members for their efforts!
• Scarborough Maine Kiwanis has established a Reading Corner at the Scarborough Food Pantry. It is going well especially during the summer when children don’t have access to books.
• The Danvers MA. Kiwanis Club haste up a Reading Corner on High  St. In Danvers. The project was spearheaded by a committee which included Janet Bennett and Mary Giangregerio. The very small area was set up using a magazine rack for the donated books from members of the Danvers Club. They put Kiwanis stickers on all the books.
• Amesbury Kiwanis Club has set up a Reading Corner at the Hillside Launderette in Amesbury.
• The Peabody Kiwanis Club sponsors one at the Torigian Family YMCA in Peabody, MA.
• The Methuen Kiwanis Club was happy to have completed another service project. The  Merrimack Laundromat and Car Wash on Burnham Rd in Methuen was the proud recipient of a book library.
• A Laundromat Reading Corner has been established by the Saco River Valley Club in a Laundromat in Saco Maine. Donna Roberts received a $200 grant from KFNE to support the endeavor.
• Hooksett, NH Kiwanis Club sponsors a reading corner at the Allenstown, NH laundromat.
• Bangor Breakfast Kiwanis sponsors a Reading Corner at Darling’s Auto and builds the bookcases also.

IF YOUR CLUB HAS ESTABLISHED A READING CORNER, PLEASE SHARE THE INFORMATION WITH ME. I WILL PASS THE INFORMATION ALONG TO KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL TO UPDATE THE NUMBERS.

GREAT NEWS!
The Kiwanis Foundation of New England, through their Grant Program, has pre-approved   $1600  funding to help pay for the kits for the Reading Corners (total cost per kit ).A Kiwanis Club must fill out the KFNE Grant application with specific information about the laundromat location where the Reading Corner will be set up. Submit the completed application to [email protected]. The grant  money will be distributed on a “first come, first serve” basis. Each Club may apply only once for this assistance. For more information go to www.kfne.org and click on grant program info.

I encourage you to establish a Reading Corner in a local laundromat in your community. The Reading Corner set up is a relatively low cost project ($200 or less) and can have a huge impact for local families and young children. Once set up you may find that your local library will supply your Club with gently used books, or Club member and friends can be asked to donate gently used books to replenish the supply of books. What better way to change a child’s life…to promote literacy and the love and joy of reading!

DIRECT LINKS TO THE BOOKCASE AND RUG CAN BE FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS ARTICLE.

Creating Reading Corners in Laundromats to Boost Early Literacy, Numeracy and Parent Engagement with Young Children

A Perfect Fit with Kiwanis’ “Young Children” Program.

I encourage you to establish a Reading Corner in your local laundromat. Kiwanis no longer has a partnership with ReadyNation or the Coin Laundry Association (CLA), but the opportunity still exists for more Reading Corners to be established in local laundromats. Kiwanis Clubs can work directly with the local laundromat to provide the materials for the reading corner. You can get ownership information about a local laundromat at your TOWN CLERK’S OFFICE in order to communicate with the laundromat owner,

WHY ESTABLISH A READING CORNER IN A LAUNDROMAT?

1. Parents spend time with their young children doing necessary chores at a laundromat. This time provides a wonderful opportunity for children and parent to spend quality time reading with appropriate books for young children to enjoy.
2. The interaction at laundromats can promote not only basic literacy but also early math and science concepts that build different parts of the brain and complementary skill sets. Creating simple but attractive reading corners can help make the best use of these ordinary parts of the day to build both parental bonds and children’s skills.
3. These reading corners are also attractive for laundromats because they set them apart from other competitors, offer a resource for customers, demonstrate their involvement in the community and engage children in productive activities.

MATERIALS NEEDED

Each corner would consist of an attractive book holder; a rug that promotes letters, numbers and geometric shapes (if space allows); and books that parents can use in the moment.  Books can be provided in various languages to meet the needs of the community. Kiwanis Clubs need to contact the laundromat owner personally and encourage them to participate. 

I strongly urge you not to order supplies until the laundromat has agreed. Kiwanis members are responsible for the costs of all supplies, including set-up and ongoing replenishment of books.   For consistency and quality, we ask that you order this book holder (2’ x 1’, about $30) and, if space allows, this rug (5’ x 6 1/2’ – optional if space is tight, about $55).  Both are available on Amazon.com (see links below).

Books need to be replenished if children take the books home. If’s ok if the books are not returned. Some children may not have books at home to read. Ownership of books is the first step to encourage the love and joy of reading!

You can get inexpensive new books several ways.  One of these is through www.FirstBook.org.  This organization sells new, quality books at very low cost – ordinarily you would need to be approved as an organization that serves disadvantaged children. 

 Other options recommended by other Kiwanis members are companies such as Reading Warehouse or Books-a-Million or Scholastic Literacy. A month supply of books can cost from $0 to about $50.  Books must not have religious, political or controversial themes, should include math/science topics, and should feature diverse characters in terms of race, ethnicity, physical ability, etc. Sponsors can also get used books through donations from employees or civic groups, as well as purchased at thrift stores, libraries, etc.  The laundromat owner and Kiwanis are responsible for any liability coverage or issues.

The Kiwanis member should give the laundromat their contact information and plan to visit the laundromat about once per month to replenish the supply of books.

Direct links on Amazon:

• Book holder: https://smile.amazon.com/Tot-Tutors-Storage-Bookshelf-Collection/dp/B000IHJF60/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1518538860&sr=8-2&keywords=toddler+book+holder
• Rug (you may want the smaller one if it’s in stock): https://smile.amazon.com/Cooper-Playtime-Collection-Numbers-Educational/dp/B01ECZ3LQ8/ref=sr_1_7_sspa?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1518539250&sr=1-7-spons&keywords=toddler%2Brug%2Bshapes%2Bnumbers%2Bletters&th=

Please contact me if you have questions, or if I can assist you in any way!

Sincerely,

Ava Adams, District Chair
Young Children Committee
New England and Bermuda District
email: [email protected]

Good Morning Fellow Kiwanians!

This month I will focus on EasterSeals which focuses on helping children (and adults) with disabilities.

The Mission of EasterSeals

EasterSeals is working to create a world where:

• Each child born with a disability is given the support necessary to participate fully in life and to have dreams and hopes, successes and achievements.
• Parents of a newly-diagnosed child with a disability are aware of the services and resources available to them and get unimpeded access to all necessary services.
• Children with disabilities are recognized by all as having vital contributions to make to our society.
• Communities value and support children with disabilities and their families.
• Access to appropriate child care is available for children with special needs.
• Families benefit from innovations and new technologies that help children with disabilities be as independent as possible.

Child Development Centers

Our Child Development Center Network is the largest provider of inclusive child care in the United States. EasterSeals serves thousands of young children and their families in a setting where children with disabilities and special needs comprise 25 percent of enrollment.

Early Intervention

Early intervention services help young children with disabilities achieve their goals in cognitive, social/emotional, communicative, adaptive and physical development.

Services may include occupational therapy to help an infant learn to hold her bottle, physical therapy to help her learn to roll over, or speech therapy to help her learn to eat. Most early intervention services take place in the home or, in the case of working parents, at child care facilities in the local community.

Locations of EasterSeals Rehabilitation Centers and Offices in New England

New Hampshire —EasterSeals New Hampshire(Rehabilitation Center)
555 Auburn Street
Manchester, NH 03103

Maine – EasterSeals Maine, Portland
125 Presumpscot Street
Portland, ME 04103

Easter Seals Massachusetts
484 Main Street, Denholm Building
Worcester, MA 01608-1817

EasterSeals Rhode Island, Wakefield
213 Robinson Street
Wakefield, RI 02879

Easter Seals Rhode Island
5 Woodruff Ave
Narragansett, RI 02882

EasterSeals Vermont
641 Comstock Road, Suite 1
Berlin, VT 05602

Connecticut — EasterSeals Rehabilitation Center of Greater Waterbury
22 Tompkins Street
Waterbury, CT 06708
Children ages: 3 to 5 years

EasterSeals Capital Region & Eastern Connecticut
100 Deerfield Road
Windsor, CT 06095

EasterSeals Coastal Fairfield County
733 Summer Street
Stamford, CT 06901

EasterSeals serves 1.4 million children and adults with disabilities and their families, offering a wide range of services at 73 affiliates nationwide. Easter Seals changes the way the world defines and views disability by making profound, positive differences in people’s lives every day, helping their clients build the skills and access the resources they need to live, learn, work and play.

Services include:

• Accessibility Resources
• Autism Services
• Camping & Recreation
• Day Care
• Employment & Training
• In-Home Care
• Mental Health Services
• Therapy
• Veteran Reintegration
• Senior Career Employment
• Respite Services

How Can Kiwanis Clubs Help?

   1     Contact EasterSeals in your locale and request a Speaker come to your Club to explain how Kiwanis members can help.

   2     Have a fundraiser for EasterSeals.

   3     Register for an EasterSeals Walk With Me Event Near You — Raise funds as an individual or as part of a team.

   4     Sponsor a Walk With Me Participant — Support friends participating in an EasterSeals Walk With Me event.

   5     Join the Presidents’ Council — Make a vital difference in the lives of people living with disabilities with a donation of $1,000 or more.

   6     Recycle for EasterSeals — Help the environment and raise money for EasterSeals. Recycle your cell phone, laser and inkjet cartridges, and more, to generate funds to help support children and adults with disabilities and their families. Learn more about this eco-friendly, fundraising initiative.

Feel Good About Giving to EasterSeals

EasterSeals primary services benefit over 1.3 million individuals each year through more than 550 centers nationwide, in Puerto Rico and Australia. For children and adults with disabilities and their families, every donation counts. Find out how your contribution makes a difference

For 25 years, EasterSeals has been first among National Health Council members for the percentage (94 percent) of program dollars allocated to providing direct services.

For more information go to

www.easterseals.com

Sincerely,

Ava Adams
District Chair, Young Children Committee
Scarborough, Maine Kiwanis Club
New England and Bermuda District

Good Morning fellow Kiwanians!

Fact: Medical equipment, treatment and facilities designed for adults just don’t fit when treating an ill or injured child.

Fact: It costs around four times as much money to treat a child as it does to treat an adult with the same ailment.

CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS AND KIWANIS….A STRONG PARTNERSHIP

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals was founded with the sole purpose to help as many children as possible by raising funds for children’s hospitals and keep funds in the community in which they were raised to help local children.

The organization was founded by Marie Osmond and her family, and John Schneider, Mick Shannon and Joe Lake.

Kiwanis International was the first association based sponsor of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, joining the charity as a partner in 1982. Key Club and the many other arms of Kiwanis joined later on as they became recognized programs of Kiwanis.

In 1997, Key Club made Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals an official charity of choice for their members to support. Kiwanis-raised funds have enabled the networks’ 170 member hospitals to provide medical care, research, and education to benefit children. Since 1983 Kiwanis has donated more than $25 million to CMN hospitals. CMN hospitals train 60% of pediatricians and 80% of all pediatric specialists.

HOW CMN HOSPITALS WORK?

To provide the best care for kids, children’s hospitals rely on donations and community support, as Medicaid and insurance programs do not fully cover the cost of care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has helped fill those funding gaps by raising more than $5 billion, most of it $1 at a time through Miracle Balloon icon campaigns. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible.

EVERY DAY CMN HOSPITALS TREAT:
Kids with Trauma 16,200
Kids with Diabetes 935
Kids with Cancer 2,128
Kids for Surgeries 2329
Babies in NICU 925

DID YOU KNOW?

• 62 Children enter a CMN Hospital every minute
• 1 IN 10 Children in North America are treated by a CMN Hospital each year
• 32 MILLION Patients visits are provided for 10 million kids every year by CMN Hospitals

There are 6 CMN Hospitals in New England.

• Children’s Hospital Boston, Boston, MA. serves eastern MA and eastern and southern New Hampshire
• Baystate Children’s Hospital, Springfield, MA.
• Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center in Portland, ME. serving children and families from all over northern New England.
• Vermont Children Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, VT.
• Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford, CT.
• Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Providence RI.

How Can Kiwanis Clubs Help?

If your Club is located near a CMN Hospital, contact an administrator and ASK how your Kiwanis Club can help. Many volunteers are needed to help at the information desk etc.

Here is a brief description of the two main roles which are open to volunteer applicants.

Inpatient/Clinic Volunteers – Interact with patients, siblings and families at the bedside, in the playroom or waiting room area to provide opportunities for developmentally appropriate play and socialization which may include holding infants/toddler, engaging in art, reading and taking part in structured activities with patients. Additionally, the volunteer would assist their supervisor with any other needs, such as unit programming, preparing materials for special events and helping organize and maintain a safe, clean environment while assisting with toy washing.

Customer Service Volunteers – Create welcoming atmosphere at main entrance of hospital and provide way finding assistance to all patients, families and guests. Assist patients and families at time of discharge from the hospital. Additionally, customer service volunteers engage with patients and siblings through play-based activities in the Hale Family Center for Families.

Volunteers are allowed to play with children or to complete non-medical tasks.

Fundraising ideas:

1) Organize a “Miracle Mile of Quarters” fundraiser

2) Organize “Duck Races” with your Key Club

3) Sell “Miracle Balloons”

4) Organize a Blood Drive/give blood.

Support –

Celebrate National Pancake Day® at IHOP® and get a FREE short stack of our Original Buttermilk Pancakes!

February 25, 2020

In return, IHOP asks that you make a donation to their charitable partners. Every stack served helps reach the goal of raising $3.5 million for children battling critical illnesses. Proceeds support CMN Hospitals, Shriners Hospitals for Children, and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. ALL PROCEEDS GO TO LOCAL CMN HOSPITALS!

Official National Pancake Day® Volunteer

On February 25, 2020 club members can support National Pancake Day by serving as ambassadors to encourage restaurant patrons to support Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. Beginning each January, watch for information from Kiwanis International about registering to volunteer on National Pancake Day.

For more information go to:
childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org

Ava Adams, District Chair
Young Children Committee
Member, Kiwanis international
Committee on Young Children
Scarborough Maine Kiwanis Club
New England and Bermuda District of Kiwanis
email: [email protected]

THE MARCH OF DIMES (MOD) : A GREAT PARTNERSHIP

Good morning fellow Kiwanians!

As many of you know I was born prematurely at 6 months. I have dealt with impaired vision issues my whole life due to impaired development from premature birth. As a result, I am passionate about the March of Dimes and their mission and programs. I hope this newsletter inspires you to work with MOD. To improve the lives of pregnant women and babies in your community.

Fact: 13% of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) has been attributed to smoking during pregnancy or after birth.
Fact: Every year more than 2.1 million babies are born prematurely or with birth defects throughout the world.
Fact: 100% of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders(FASD) are 100% preventable.
Fact: Every year 2 million children die worldwide because they were not immunized.

• Some children  born today die or suffer needlessly in spite of the medicines and technology available.Many will die because their mothers didn’t know how to take care of themselves during pregnancy; they have poor eating habits, smoke, drink alcohol or even take drugs. Other children will be handicapped permanently by their mothers’ lifestyles. 
• Some babies won’t be seen by doctors for checkups and won’t be immunized. Others will suffer from being “shaken” they may suffer permanent disabilities or die. As Kiwanians there is much we can do.

We can educate the public!

Brochures available from the March of Dimes:

(marchofdimes.org)

PRETERM LABOR identifies preterm labor, why it is important to know about it, risk factors, signs of preterm labor and what to do.

NEWBORN CARE deals with getting ready for the baby, baby’s first checkup, feeding your baby, after baby comes home, when baby is sick, and vaccination information.
Distribute to: doctor’s offices, clinics, grocery stores,  hospitals that provide parent education classes for pregnant women and mother support groups, health fairs.

OTHER PROJECT IDEAS FROM MOD: 

•  Provide prenatal health-care at work

The March of Dimes has developed a series of nine seminars, titled “Babies and You,” designed for presentation during lunch hours or other periods of the workday. These seminars educate potential parents about lifestyle behaviors that can affect a pregnancy and encourage early and regular prenatal care. Many employers have begun to realize that their companies benefit from programs that improve the pregnancy outcome of workers.

A Kiwanis club could be the catalyst to bring the “Babies and You” seminars to a community. The club can work with small businesses in the community to organize a class of employees for the seminars. The “Babies and You” seminars are conducted by local March of Dimes offices. To find the nearest March of Dimes office, contact the Fulfillment Center of the March of Dimes at 800-367-6630 or www.marchofdimes.com.

OTHER PROJECT IDEAS:

Set up a health screening or free clinic.

•  Contact the Department of Public Health in your area and ask if members can assist with their established programs.

 Develop a smoking awareness campaign for pregnant women
A public health expert has estimated that infant mortality would decrease by 10 percent if all pregnant women quit smoking. However, many pregnant smokers don’t know they are hurting their babies or the degree to which developing fetuses can be damaged.
There is much work to be done. Just think – how many lives can we save or improve by going out and educating the public.

Finally, November is when the March of Dimes focuses everyone’s attention on the impact premature birth has on babies and families. Throughout the month of November and on World Prematurity Day, November 17, Kiwanis International supports the March of Dimes by raising public awareness of the seriousness of premature birth. Members are encouraged to wear purple to their November meetings, joining in local March of Dimes awareness events, and hosting a guest speaker to share their prematurity story.

Sincerely,
Ava Adams, District Chair
 Young Children Committee
Scarborough, Maine Kiwanis
New England Bermuda District
email: [email protected]