March of Dimes awards $25,100 grant to Family Connection

November 20, 2012

COLUMBIA, SC – November 20, 2012 – Family Connection of South Carolina (FCSC), a nonprofit organization that provides support to families with children with special health care needs, announced  that it has received a $25,100 grant from the March of Dimes Foundation in support of the Parents Helping Parents project.

The project will access parents who have children with special health care needs to educate women who are pregnant or of childbearing age to prevent future premature births and promote healthy pregnancies. The goal is to have better health outcomes for children in South Carolina.

“Family Connection parents know what it’s like to have a baby born too soon,” said Jackie Richards, FCSC’s executive director. “They are the best resources we have to communicate firsthand knowledge and experience to families in similar situations. Often, expectant mothers are not aware of the support available, and we can help close the gap. We are so grateful to the March of Dimes Foundation for this grant, with which we can better inform families to ensure healthy births,” Richards said.

Cheryl Major, who provides support to parents with children in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) through FCSC, echoed the importance of the Parents Helping Parents project.

“I had a premature birth and know personally how scary it can be for the mother and child,” said Major. “If I can help prevent one premature birth, this March of Dimes project will be well worth the effort.”

Family Connection parent partners, who are trained to provide 1:1 support and education, will be educated on 17P, which studies have show can reduce recurring preterm births, and they will share this information with women in the NICU and in the communities in which they live. FCSC parent partners also will share information about local and state maternal and child health programs that pregnant women can access for better health. 

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com/southcarolina.  Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.


About Family Connection
Family Connection of South Carolina is a statewide nonprofit organization that links families of children with special health care needs or disabilities with resources, support and education. FCSC serves as the home for the South Carolina chapter of Family Voices and is the South Carolina F2F. The organization is headquartered in Columbia, S.C, and has staff and volunteer parents located in all counties of the state. FCSC was founded in 1989 by a group of South Carolina parents who have children with disabilities and special needs. For more information, find us on Facebook and visit www.FamilyConnectionSC.org.