Statements

Mission

March of Dimes fights for the health of all moms and babies. We're advocating for policies to protect them. We're working to radically improve the healthcare they receive. We're pioneering research to find solutions. We're empowering families with the knowledge and tools to have healthier pregnancies. By uniting communities, we're building a brighter future for us all.

Background

As with our fight against polio before the vaccines, we have been making progress in prevention and treatment of the consequences of prematurity, with limited success in preventing the underlying problem. It took 17 years until the Salk vaccine was developed to prevent the problem of infection with polio. Similarly, our first success with the problem of prematurity was with the regionalization of perinatal medicine in the late 1970s. This NICU network began treating the consequences of prematurity more effectively, and dramatically increased survival. Survival is not enough. We want to prevent preterm birth to avoid the suffering associated with the problem. This is why we launched in 2003 the March of Dimes Prematurity Campaign. The March of Dimes advances the mission through research grants, community services, education and advocacy. The research program seeks to extend our knowledge, develop treatments and preventive interventions for birth defects, prematurity, low birthweight and infant mortality. The community services program funds innovative prevention initiatives at the local and state levels. Awards are made by the Chapter Program Services Committee based on guidelines that reflect national and local mission priorities. The education program develops pregnancy wellness messages for current and prospective parents, particularly those at risk, and for health professionals. The consumer education programs are implemented through media campaigns, classes and seminars, literature distribution, corporate partnerships, and online tools and information. Education for health professionals takes place through information, publications, conferences, grand rounds and educational curricula. Through advocacy, the March of Dimes promotes national and state public policies designed to improve the health of women of childbearing age, infants and children. Public policies involve expanding access to health care coverage, advancing health promotion and disease prevention programs, and funding research to prevent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

Impact

March of Dimes in Tennessee had a very impactful year in 2021. We were able to surpass our fundraising goals by over $50,000. Locally we implemented Implicit Bias training for over 600 providers, conducted focus groups regarding social determinants of health, launched Becoming a Mom online education, and hosted 3 It Starts With Mom panels. We're looking forward to growing these programs in 2022 and introducing new campaigns focused on increasing access to care.

Needs

Board Leadership & Volunteers prepared to lead us into the next 80 years through fund raising, advocacy, community awareness and developing new leaders in the community.

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Health Care  - Public Health
Secondary Category:	-
Tertiary Category:	-

Areas Served

Tennessee

TN