National Health Foundation Receives Grant from Anthem Blue Cross Foundation to Improve Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes among High-Risk Pregnant Teens
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- National Health Foundation (NHF) is pleased to announce it has received a $50,000 grant from the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation. These funds will enable NHF to enhance its Pregnant and Parenting Teen (PPT) Program curriculum to reduce the incidence of low birth weight babies and develop a framework for replication. The PPT Program is funded by the Harold Edelstein Foundation.
NHF's enhanced PPT program will focus on the top 5 healthy behaviors that most directly decrease the risk of delivering a low birth weight (LBW) baby. Specific attention will be placed on modifiable risk factors known to be associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, including LBW. These maternal lifestyles and behavioral factors include, but are not limited to: cigarette smoking; alcohol/substance abuse; poor nutrition; and lack of comprehensive prenatal care. NHF's enhanced PPT program series will be piloted at Thomas Riley and McAlister High in South LA, two identified schools with a demonstrated need for support.
"These past 3 years have shown an increased rate of underweight babies and unfortunately an even higher rate of premature births within Thomas Riley's student population," said Mrs. Linda Roussel, Principal of Thomas Riley High. "NHF's weekly program workshops are helping to address this need by empowering these young moms-to-be in areas of nutrition, health behaviors, and parenting skills necessary for building toward a positive and healthy birth experience. This program is an asset to our school and the surrounding community."
Low birth weight is one of the primary reasons babies fall ill or die in the first year of life. According to data from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, LBW rates in Los Angeles County have steadily increased in the past decade from 6.4% in 2000 to 7.3% in 2010. Currently, low or very low birth weight is the leading cause of infant mortality in LA County. Strong evidence indicates that women most at risk for LBW include those with unintended pregnancies and pregnancies in adolescence.
In light of this public health concern, NHF's goal is to help reduce the incidence of LBW births and demonstrate that interventions targeting nutritional improvement with enhanced prenatal care and psychosocial support for adolescence have benefits in reducing LBW rates. "We believe the enhanced PPT program series with content related to healthy behaviors to reduce low-birth weight will be impactful and serve to improve the immediate and long-term health behaviors of our at risk expectant teen population," said Kelly Bruno, NHF Chief Operating Officer.
National Health Foundation is an independent, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to improving and enhancing the healthcare of the underserved by developing and supporting innovative programs that: (1) can become independently viable; (2) provide systemic solutions to gaps in healthcare access and delivery, and; (3) have the potential to be replicated nationally. To learn more about NHF, visit: www.nhfca.org
SOURCE National Health Foundation
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