January 2013
In the summer of 2012, the Preconception Health Leadership Team held a series of three regional coalition meetings with a total of 64 participants throughout the state in Boone, Elizabeth City and Spindale. The Preconception Health Leadership Team also coordinated an Annual Preconception Health Coalition meeting in Asheboro in July 2012 with 54 participants from different areas of the state. All of these meetings were instrumental in gathering information for the Preconception Health Coalition’s strategic planning process, celebrating accomplishments, and sharing best practices. Work on the 2014-2019 NC Preconception Health Strategic Plan was also initiated at these meetings.
At the annual coalition meeting, PRAMS, BRFSS and NC census data were shared to assess how well the state was doing in regards to improving preconception health outcomes between 2006 and 2010. Ensuing discussion by coalition members highlighted both successes and continued challenges shown by this...
Nine years ago, former March of Dimes Director of Program Services, Sarah Verbiest, picked up a $3 million check from the North Carolina State Attorney General’s office. This money was awarded to the March of Dimes North Carolina Chapter as a result of a multi-state settlement with several vitamin manufacturers for price-fixing. The purpose of this one-time award to the March of Dimes was to improve the health and nutrition of North Carolinians and it was intended to expand the statewide Folic Acid Campaign. The primary goal of the Campaign was to increase the number of women of childbearing age in North Carolina who routinely take multivitamins prior to pregnancy. Research shows that if all women took a multivitamin with folic acid prior to pregnancy the rate of NTDs (neural tube defects), such as spina bifida, could be reduced by up to...
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