May 27, 2011 Meeting Minutes

Minutes from meeting held on 5/27/2011

Purpose: The purpose of the Mother Baby Wellness Coalition of Pima County is to create collaborative partnerships and improve the health and safety of mothers, babies and families through education.

We do this by:
• Ensuring babies are born healthy and raised in a safe and nurturing environment.
• Educating and encouraging healthy choices.
• Serving as a strong voice for change.
• Promoting equal access to quality health care.
• Eliminating health disparities among residents of Pima County.
• Achieving cultural competence and respecting diversity.

Present: Heather Friedman, Pima Regional Manager for Teen Outreach Pregnancy Services (TOPS); Carolyn Matthiasson, Heartsounds; Mother and Infant Care & Love in Bloom; Rosie Dyer, Nurse Family partnership; Anita Gallardo, UOA Mobile Health Program; Elsa Cocoa, UOA Mobile Health Program; Kerry Green, Child and Family Resources.


Announcements:

Heather: Brought flyers to disperse to group members
Rosie: Nurse Family Partnership will be having its first graduation ceremony for a client who went through the program for a full 2 years. They have 89 moms with a capacity for 100.

Anita discussed how their program is going to expand from 26 moms to 20.

Elsa Cocoa discussed how she attempts to inform her clients on the benefits of cord blood donation...

Teri: No Safe Sitter classes this summer unless recruits fall into my hands for instructors. NMC is interviewing for 2 Perinatal Instructor positions. Please send applicants to the NMC website or to Teri for more information.


Due to constraints on time and the treasurer not present the minutes and treasurer report were not addressed. Since we have not passed the bucket or obtained any donations that I am aware of our report of $692.97 is still our balance at present.


New Business: The MBWC brochure was dispersed to all present. The brochure is 5.5 inches wide which makes it have a great eye catching appeal but is too wide for the “normal” brochure display holder. Teri evaluated Office Max for holders and they do not carry this size. Please keep your eyes open to where we might find this size holder. Possibly the coalition could purchase a few to hold our brochure and share our vision.


Presentation: Charis Ober did a presentation on Public Cord Blood donation. Did you know that moms could publicly donate their cord blood to save a life and it would be no cost to them? The catch is they need to be screened and meet criteria. Save the Cord Foundation started 5 years ago. Charis Ober is doing non-commercial education on how cord blood can save lives. She showed a DVD and dispersed a copy with all in attendance. We need to educate moms that this is an option. It is a law that all physicians should be educating their clients on how Cord Blood can save lives and the options their clients have to donate or privately bank. We need to encourage our physicians to share this information with all their clients not just the ones who have the money to privately bank. Please contact www.savethecordfoundation.org or Charis at 520-419-0269 for educational materials.


Next Meeting: June 24, 2011, 8:30 – 10 a.m. This will be a business meeting. We have important topics to discuss in regards to our vision and follow through. Please consider attending.

Meetings are held at TOPS: 3024 E. Ft. Lowell Rd.
Respectfully submitted, Teri Benitez