MARCH OF DIMES, LACARE BRING NEW PROGRAM TO LOUISIANA
TO HELP PREGNANT WOMEN QUIT SMOKING
(From left to right: Vickie Berry – Clinical Nurse Educator for Maternal/Child Health, SlidellMemorialHospital;
Taffy Morrison – Community Outreach Manager, Slidell Memorial Hospital; Nerissa D’Amico- Senior Community Director, March of Dimes Greater New Orleans Division; Ashlee Menke – Health Education Director, Cancer Association of Greater New Orleans)
Baton Rouge, LA – The March of Dimes Louisiana Chapter and LaCare, a Medicaid managed care plan serving Louisiana and part of the AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies, recently awarded a grant to the Cancer Association of Greater New Orleans (CAGNO) to implement a BABY & ME – Tobacco Free Program. The Baby & Me Tobacco Free Program is a direct service evidenced-based, incentive-based smoking cessation program to help pregnant women quit smoking and remain smoke-free post-partum. This is the first program of its kind in the state of Louisiana. The Baby & Me Tobacco Free model program has received national acclaims for its effectiveness in decreasing the number of women who smoke during and after pregnancy.
The Cancer Association of Greater New Orleans, which is an agency of the United Way, will offer the program in St. Tammy Parish. The need for this program is evident in this area, based on having one of the highest rates of women who are reported to be exposed to smoking during pregnancy. Smoking during pregnancy is known to cause birth defects, premature births, low-birth weight babies and sudden infant death syndrome. Quitting smoking greatly reduces the health risks on the mother and the baby.
Ashlee Menke, Health Education Director for CAGNO and a certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist, will be the Program Director for this project. “We are excited to have received this grant from the March of Dimes to assist pregnant women in becoming smoke-free. Currently, there are no programs of this nature in the Northshore area and in the state of Louisiana that are providing one-on-one smoking cessation needs of expecting mothers. We are happy to provide this program to them and to address the needs of this community,” said Menke.
The design of this program is made successful, in large part, due to collaborations with local agencies and through the support of community partners. SlidellMemorialHospital has signed on to be a leading partner by graciously offering space at their ParentingCenter to house the program. “We are glad to support and partner with CAGNO and March of Dimes to improve the disparity of health outcomes for our community’s youngest patients,” stated Taffy Morrison, Slidell Memorial’s community outreach manager.
Additionally, clients of the St. Tammany Community Health Center and WIC Clinic will experience the convenience of having the Baby & Me Tobacco Free program offered all at the same location (SMH Wellness Pavilion, 501 Robert Blvd, Slidell, LA).
Laurie Adams, creator and national executive director of the BABY & ME – Tobacco Free Program, will provide the technical support and training necessary to enroll women into the program. “I am thrilled to expand the program to the state of Louisiana and in the greater New Orleans area. We have seen tremendous success nationwide and it is our hope to help as many women as we can to quit smoking and stay quit,” said Adams. “It is a pleasure to be working with CAGNO and the March of Dimes, as we help healthy moms have healthy babies.”
Women who enroll in the program quit smoking and remain smoke-free after the baby is born. In addition, participants can receive FREE diapers for up to 6 months post-partum, one of the major needs of new mothers based upon the results of a focus group conducted by the National Baby & Me Tobacco Free program. “One of the greatest gifts a woman can give her baby is a tobacco-free pregnancy and a tobacco-free home, “said Adams.
Through a Prematurity Prevention Sponsorship from LaCare, the March of Dimes Louisiana Chapter was able to offer a grant to address risk factors contributing to poor birth outcomes in Louisiana. LaCare is part of the AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies, one of the largest organizations of Medicaid managed care plans in the United States. AmeriHealth Caritas is a majority-owned subsidiary of Independence Blue Cross; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan holds a minority interest.
The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.
“The proven model of the Baby & Me Tobacco Free Program is directly aligned with the mission of the March of Dimes. It is our goal to partner with agencies and bring to the State of Louisiana evidenced-based models that are proven to reduce risk factors contributing to poor birth outcomes and premature birth,” said Makesha Judson, state director of program services with the March of Dimes Louisiana Chapter. “We are grateful for the generous gift from LaCare, which has made providing quality care to expecting mothers and improving birth outcomes in this state one of their top priorities.”
The goal of the BABY & ME – Tobacco Free Program is to enroll at least 55 participants in St. Tammany parish. For more information on participating in the Baby & Me Tobacco Free program or referring women into the program, contact the Cancer Association of Greater New Orleans at (504) 733-5539.