Thank you, Key Club, for making a difference for babies! Together, the March of Dimes and Key Club work together to make a difference for babies everywhere! Thank you for everything you have done, since 1978, and continue to do for babies! Key Club members, like you, continue to support the March of Dimes all year long by hosting service projects, raising funds and educating your community about the crisis of preterm birth. Honor the 15 million babies born too soon worldwide this Fall by Coloring Your School Purple during Prematurity Awareness Month in November. In the Spring, continue your efforts with March for Babies. This is your exclusive March of Dimes service project toolkit to make a difference through your work as a member of Key Club. In it you will find tools and ideas for success. We are here to help you and your Club, help babies and make an impact! Thank you again for supporting stronger, healthier babies! Lindsey Hiebert 2014-2015 National Youth Council Chair The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. service project toolkit
Transcript
Thank you, Key Club, for making a difference for babies!
Together, the March of Dimes and Key Club work together to make a difference for babies everywhere! Thank you for everything you have done, since 1978, and continue to do for babies!
Key Club members, like you, continue to support the March of Dimes all year long by hosting service projects, raising funds and educating your community about thecrisis of preterm birth. Honor the 15 million babies born too soon worldwide this Fall by Coloring Your School Purple during Prematurity Awareness Month in November. In the Spring, continue your efforts with March for Babies.
This is your exclusive March of Dimes service project toolkit to make a difference through your work as a member of Key Club. In it you will find tools and ideas for success. We are here to help you and your Club, help babies and make an impact!
Thank you again for supporting stronger, healthier babies!
Lindsey Hiebert2014-2015 National Youth Council Chair
The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
service project toolkit
this year with Key Club’s support
By partnering with the March of Dimes you help give all babies a healthy start. Here are ways you can Educate, Give and Serve to make a difference for babies everywhere.
Worldwide, every year, 15 million babies are born too soon. More than one million will not get to celebrate their first birthday. Babies who survive often have lifelong health problems. Educate yourself, your school and your community on the serious effects of preterm birth.
The money you raise supports programs in your community and helps moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies. And it funds research to find answers to the problems that threaten our babies.
Across the world, babies need your help. From supporting local community events to providing hope for families, there are a variety of ways to make a difference for babies.
Educate
Give
Serve
Need more resources? We’re here to help, with everything from ideas to resources. Email us at [email protected].
Dress Your School in PURPLESee how much purple, the March of Dimes color, can fill your school.
• Post purple markings (balloon, ribbon, posters, etc.) along with March of Dimes information on every 9th locker or classroom in honor of the 1 in 9 babies born too soon in the US each year.
• Challenge classmates to see who can wear the most purple – from hats to socks. Have a dress code? In exchange for $5 donation to the March of Dimes, allow students (and Teachers) to dress down.
Make a PresentationWith administrative approval, host a presentation to your class and your entire school – think homecoming, football games or even during intermission at the school play.
• Include a 15 second moment of silence in honor of the more than 15 million babies worldwide who are born too soon each year.
• Utilize the speaking points provided to share the effects of preterm birth.
• Publicize information on morning announcements within your school newspaper.
Share a StoryNearly half a million babies are born too soon each year and every family effected has a story.
• Invite someone with a connection to the March of Dimes mission to share his or her story with your school – or, if you were born early, share your own.
• Share one of the many stories available at youtube.com/marchofdimes.
Every minute a baby is born too soon. Every day, 72 babies die due to preterm birth complications.
Prematurity is the #1 leading cause of death in newborns – these babies need your help! Share this and other important information with your members, school and administration. On World Prematurity Day (November 17) and throughout Prematurity Awareness Month, educate your school, community and the world.
educate
Check out your local prematurity statisticsVisit marchofdimes.org/peristats to find out how many babies are born too soon each year in your community.
March for BabiesWhen you walk in March for Babies, our signature fundraising (and fun) event, you are helping us reach a day when all babies are born healthy. Register your Key Club at marchforbabies.org/KeyClub and gain access to a variety of online tools to help. Be sure to include “Key Club” and your school in your team name.
• Set goals and brainstorm how to reach them. Some Clubs raise money online, others host events. Find out what works best for you – online fundraising, hosting events (or both!)
• Ask for donations in person, online, and/or send letters. Encourage members to do the same. Keep in mind, it takes an average of 3 asks to one person to get a donation.
• Celebrate your Key Club’s success at March for Babies and remember to thank everyone who supported you.
Rock out in PURPLEHosting your own purple dance is a great way to raise awareness and funds to help end prematurity, all while rocking out in purple, the March of Dimes color! Charge an entry fee and donate proceeds to putting an end to prematurity.
• Set a theme - Go formal, with gowns and ties, or go casual, asking everyone to dress in purple from head to toe.
• Check with local businesses to have food and entertainment donated.
• Is another club already putting on a dance? Offer to join forces and host one large dance that incorporates entertainment and raising awareness.
Host a Miracle Minute Before class or at a school-wide event, pass around buckets (with administrative approval) to collect donations and help fund research into the reasons why babies are born too soon. Submit donations to your local March of Dimes office.
The money you raise is giving hope to nearly half a million babies born too soon each year!
Key Clubbers have a strong history of partnering with the March of Dimes to raise funds to help babies. Here are just a few ways you can support babies and fund research to find answers to the problems that threaten our babies.
give
March of Dimes Banner Patch Did you know that if your team raises at $250 or more, your Club can receive a March of Dimes Banner Patch, exclusively for Key Club International? Be sure to submit your donations to qualify for the Banner Patch.
March for Babies – day of support At March for Babies, more than 3 million people join their family and friends in nearly 700 communities across the nation, and we need hands-on service to make it a success. Contact your local March of Dimes for more information.
• Host the Kids’ Tent – from face painting to managing the balloon houses, help is always appreciated.
• Help out at registration and thank the families, friends and partners who are walking for stronger, healthier babies.
• Support a water station and cheer for walkers as they pass their first, second or even last mile!
Light Your School in PURPLEBy lighting your school in purple, you are honoring the 15 million babies born too soon each year and the one million who do not survive.
• Work with your administration to learn how to change your school lights. Ask about both exterior and interior lights (such as elevators and lobbies.
• Ask administration for ideas on where to purchase light bulbs and/or check with local businesses to have lights donated.
• Find an Emcee to kick off the ceremony and “turn on the lights.” This could be a local leader at school like your class president, homecoming queen or king, principal or even your mascot!
Connect With Your Local March of Dimes Office From supporting community events, like March for Babies, to providing help for families, your local March of Dimes staff may have a variety of hands-on projects. To find your local March of Dimes office address and contact information visit marchofdimes.org/contactus.
Premature birth is the #1 cause of death in newborns
We need your help to give every baby a healthy start in life. Your Key Club can work together to support your local community, raise awareness and make a difference!
serve
Brainstorm event ideas with your Key ClubHosting events is a great way to raise awareness. What types of events are successful at your school? Are there businesses or students who might be interested in helping your cause. Check your school calendar- try not to scheduled events on days when a lot of other activities are going on.
Key C lub March o f D imes Ser v ice and Ac t iv i ty Form
The March of Dimes is honored to partner with Key Club International and all levels of Kiwanis
International. THANK YOU for support to help every child have a healthy start in life! Please fill
out completely and mail your completed form along with your donation to your state March of
Dimes Office at the address listed on the next page. Please type or print legibly and keep a
copy for your records.
Date: _______________
School Name: _________________________________________________________________
Outside U.S. & Puerto RicoMarch of Dimes Headquarters 1275 Mamaroneck AvenueWhite Plains, NY 10605
Please mail this form and donations to your March of Dimes Office
For the most up to date March of Dimes office listing please visit marchofdimes.org/contactus
Speaking Points What do you say when talking about the March of Dimes? Check out these speaking points. Go the extra mile and use post on Facebook and Twitter.
Local, National and Global ResourcesThere are a variety of resources about the serious effects of preterm birth (some included in this guide). Share these resources with your Key Club, school and community. These include:
• In November, the March of Dimes releases its annual Prematurity Report Card (available in this Toolkit) that scores the United States and each state on its rate of premature birth.
• In an average week in the United States, more than 8,700 babies are born preterm. The Born Too Soon and Too Small in the United States report (available in this Toolkit provides important statistics about preterm birth across the nation.
• To find your State’s Prematurity Report Card and state-wide prematurity reports visit marchofdimes.org/peristats.
• The Global Action Report on Preterm Birth, entitled Born Too Soon, provides the first-ever comparable country-level estimates for preterm birth in 184 countries. To find out how your country’s preterm birth rate compares to others across the world, visit marchofdimes.org/BornTooSoon.
• March of Dimes CARES (available in this Toolkit). The acronym cares stands for Community; Advocacy; Research; Education; Support. This is a simple way to share how the March of Dimes carries out its mission.
speaking points and resources
• Every year, 15 million babies are born prematurely worldwide. More than a million of them die before their first birthday.
• In the United States, almost half a million babies are born too soon each year — that’s 1 in 9. The premature birth rate in our country is higher than that in many other developed nations.
• Premature birth is the # 1 cause of death during the first month of life. Even babies born just a few weeks too soon can face serious health challenges and are at risk for lifelong disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, lung problems, and vision and hearing loss.
• Premature birth means a baby is born too early. Babies aren’t fully developed until at least 39 weeks of pregnancy. Important development of their brains, lungs and eyes occurs in the last few weeks of pregnancy.
= moving in the right direction n/c = no change = moving in the wrong direction
The March of Dimes is leading the Prematurity Campaign to reduce the nation’s preterm birth rate to 9.6 percent or less by 2020. This annual Premature Birth Report Card measures progress by comparing each state’s rate to the goal of 9.6 percent. The March of Dimes and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) have also established an interim goal to reduce premature birth by a minimum of 8 percent by 2014. In addition to improvements in public health, more research is needed to understand all the factors that contribute to premature birth.
March of Dimes2014 Premature BirthReport Card
Health care before, during and after pregnancy can help identify
and manage conditions that contribute to premature birth. We
urge policymakers to expand insurance coverage, including
Medicaid, for women of childbearing age, and we urge employ-
ers to create workplaces that support maternal and infant health.
Most premature babies are born just a few weeks early, but these
babies are still at increased risk for death and disability. Some
babies may be born early as the result of an induction or c-section
that is not medically necessary. We call on hospitals and health
professionals to eliminate early elective deliveries before 39
weeks of completed gestation that are not medically necessary.
Quitting smoking can reduce women’s risk of premature birth.
We urge policymakers to pursue initiatives that prevent tobacco
use and help women quit smoking.
The March of Dimes is concerned about inequities in health
and health care that contribute to higher rates of preterm birth
among different racial and ethnic groups. We urge state and
federal governments to support funding and innovative practices
that address the complex medical and social factors underlying
racial and ethnic disparities in premature birth.
Uninsured women
Late preterm birth
Women who smoke
Preterm birth rates by race and ethnicity
Race categories (white, black, Native American and Asian) include only women of non-Hispanic ethnicity.
FactorLatest rate
Previous rate Status Recommendation
Goal Rate Grade
United States
9.6% 11.4% C
20.1%
8.1%
20.8%
19.8%
8.0%
20.5%
For information on how we are working to reduce premature birth,contact the March of Dimes National Office at (914) 997-4286.
Hispanic 11.6%White 10.3%Black 16.5%Native American 13.4%Asian 10.0%
All states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico pledged to reduce the preterm birth rate by 8% by 2014.
Where possible, national data sources were used so that data would be consistent for each state and jurisdiction-specific premature
birth report card. Therefore, data provided on the report card may differ from data obtained directly from state or local health
departments and vital statistics agencies. This could be due to multiple causes. For example, as part of the Vital Statistics
Cooperative Program, states are required to send NCHS natality and mortality data for a given year by a specific date. Sometimes
states receive data after this date, which may result in slight differences in the rates calculated using NCHS-processed data and
state-processed data. Another reason preterm birth rates, in particular, may vary could be due to differences in the way NCHS and
the states calculate variables and impute missing data. Collaboration among March of Dimes chapters, state and local health
departments and other local partners will provide a deeper understanding of specific contributors to preterm birth.
March of Dimes 2020 Goal
Premature birth report card grades are based solely on the distance of a state’s rate of preterm birth from the March of Dimes goal
of 9.6%. The goal of 9.6% was determined by using published research to estimate the maximum achievable benefits of applying
known strategies to prevent preterm birth – such as smoking cessation programs, progesterone treatments for medically eligible
women, lowering the number of pregnancies from infertility treatments that result in multiples, and preventing medically
unnecessary cesarean sections and inductions before 39 weeks of pregnancy. This goal also expects that more women will have
insurance coverage in the future, and that continued research will yield new medical advances in the next decade.
March of Dimes and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) Pledge
The March of Dimes and ASTHO have established an interim goal to reduce the preterm birth rate in each state by a minimum of 8
percent by 2014. Progress towards the goal is measured from the 2009 baseline preterm birth rate according to data from NCHS
and calculated by the March of Dimes Perinatal Data Center.
March of Dimes 2014 Premature Birth Report Card
Technical Notes
Indicator Puerto Rico50 states and D.C.Definition
Data Sources
Not shown
Preterm birth (%) Percentage of all live births less than 37 completed weeks gestation
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), 2013 preliminary, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006 final birth data
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), 2013 preliminary, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006 final birth data
Late preterm birth (%) Percentage of all live births between 34 and 36 weeks gestation
NCHS, 2013 preliminary and 2012 final birth data
NCHS, 2013 preliminary and 2012 final birth data
Uninsured women (%) Percentage of women ages 15-44 with no source of health insurance coverage
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2013 and 2012 data
Percentage of women ages 18-44 with no health care coverage, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 2013 and 2012 data
Women who smoke (%) Percentage of women ages 18-44 who currently smoke either every day or some days and have smoked at least 100 cigarettes in her lifetime
CDC, BRFSS, 2013 and 2012 data CDC, BRFSS, 2013 and 2012 data
Preterm birth (%) by race/ethnicity
Percentage of all live births less than 37 completed weeks gestation by race/ethnicity of the mother
NCHS 2012 final birth data, 3-year average for Maine and Montana (2010 to 2012), 4-year average for Vermont (2009 to 2012)
Image description. Peristats Logo End of image description.
Born Too Soon and Too Small in the United States
In An Average Week in the United States(1)
8,768babies are
born preterm
1,462babies are bornvery preterm
6,071babies are bornlow birthweight
1,082babies are born very
low birthweight
Image description.Preterm Birth Rates Shapepretermunderline, Label:2012Map.Background: 49 items, 49 with data.Alabama is 14.6. Value is in the range1 range, Alabama (14.6).Arkansas is 13.3. Value is in the range1 range, Arkansas (13.3).Arizona is 11.6. Value is in the range2 range, Arizona (11.6).California is 9.6. Value is in the range3 range, California (9.6).Colorado is 10.4. Value is in the range3 range, Colorado (10.4).Connecticut is 9.7. Value is in the range3 range, Connecticut (9.7).District of Columbia is 12.8. Value is in the range1 range, District of Columbia (12.8).Delaware is 12.3. Value is in the range1 range, Delaware (12.3).Florida is 13.7. Value is in the range1 range, Florida (13.7).Georgia is 12.7. Value is in the range1 range, Georgia (12.7).Iowa is 11.5. Value is in the range2 range, Iowa (11.5).Idaho is 10.3. Value is in the range3 range, Idaho (10.3).Illinois is 12. Value is in the range2 range, Illinois (12).Indiana is 10.9. Value is in the range2 range, Indiana (10.9).Kansas is 11. Value is in the range2 range, Kansas (11).Kentucky is 12.7. Value is in the range1 range, Kentucky (12.7).Louisiana is 15.3. Value is in the range1 range, Louisiana (15.3).Massachusetts is 10.1. Value is in the range3 range, Massachusetts (10.1).Maryland is 12.2. Value is in the range2 range, Maryland (12.2).Maine is 9.3. Value is in the range3 range, Maine (9.3).Michigan is 11.8. Value is in the range2 range, Michigan (11.8).Minnesota is 10.2. Value is in the range3 range, Minnesota (10.2).Missouri is 11.7. Value is in the range2 range, Missouri (11.7).Mississippi is 17.1. Value is in the range1 range, Mississippi (17.1).Montana is 11.2. Value is in the range2 range, Montana (11.2).North Carolina is 12. Value is in the range2 range, North Carolina (12).North Dakota is 9.9. Value is in the range3 range, North Dakota (9.9).Nebraska is 11.1. Value is in the range2 range, Nebraska (11.1).New Hampshire is 9.4. Value is in the range3 range, New Hampshire (9.4).New Jersey is 11.2. Value is in the range2 range, New Jersey (11.2).New Mexico is 11.5. Value is in the range2 range, New Mexico (11.5).Nevada is 13. Value is in the range1 range, Nevada (13).New York is 10.7. Value is in the range3 range, New York (10.7).Ohio is 12.1. Value is in the range2 range, Ohio (12.1).Oklahoma is 13. Value is in the range1 range, Oklahoma (13).Oregon is 9.1. Value is in the range3 range, Oregon (9.1).Pennsylvania is 10.8. Value is in the range2 range, Pennsylvania (10.8).Rhode Island is 11. Value is in the range2 range, Rhode Island (11).South Carolina is 13.7. Value is in the range1 range, South Carolina (13.7).South Dakota is 10.7. Value is in the range3 range, South Dakota (10.7).Tennessee is 12.5. Value is in the range1 range, Tennessee (12.5).Texas is 12.4. Value is in the range1 range, Texas (12.4).Utah is 10.2. Value is in the range3 range, Utah (10.2).Virginia is 11.3. Value is in the range2 range, Virginia (11.3).Vermont is 8.7. Value is in the range3 range, Vermont (8.7).Washington is 9.9. Value is in the range3 range, Washington (9.9).Wisconsin is 10.5. Value is in the range3 range, Wisconsin (10.5).West Virginia is 12.4. Value is in the range1 range, West Virginia (12.4).Wyoming is 10.8. Value is in the range2 range, Wyoming (10.8).Data Points: 0 items.Percent of live births (51 States) ShapeLegendBox1, Label:Over 12.2 (15) ShapeLegendBox2, Label:10.8-12.2 (19) ShapeLegendBox3, Label:Under 10.8 (17)Value ranges are based on an approximately equal number of states in each range.Map.Background: 1 items, 1 with data.Alaska is 9.2. Value is in the range3 range, AK (9.2).Data Points: 0 items.Map.Background: 1 items, 1 with data.Hawaii is 12.2. Value is in the range2 range, Hawaii (12.2).Data Points: 0 items. End of image description.
Over 12.2 (15)
10.8-12.2 (19)
Under 10.8 (17)
Preterm Birth Rates
Percent of live births (51 States)
Value ranges are based on anapproximately equal number ofstates in each range.
2012
Preterm and Low Birthweight Births in the United States
2002 2012 2020 US Objective
Preterm(1) 12.1% 11.5% 11.4%
Low Birthweight(1) 7.8% 8.0% 7.8%
• In 2012, there were 455,918 preterm births in theUnited States, representing 11.5% of live births.(1)
• Between 2002 and 2012, the rate of infants born
preterm in the United States declined 5%.(1)
• During 2010-2012 (average) in the United States,
preterm birth rates were highest for women ages 40and older (16.6%), followed by women under age 20(13.5%), ages 30-39 (11.8%) and ages 20-29(11.2%).(1)
• During 2010-2012 (average) in the United States,preterm birth rates were highest for black infants(16.8%), followed by Native Americans (13.6%),Hispanics (11.7%), whites (10.5%) and Asians(10.3%).(1)
• In 2005, the annual societal economic cost (medical,
educational, and lost productivity) associated withpreterm birth in the United States was at least $26.2billion.(2)
Additional perinatal statistics available at marchofdimes.com/peristats Page 1
Image description. Peristats Logo End of image description.
Born Too Soon and Too Small in the United StatesMarch of Dimes National Prematurity Campaign: The Mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the healthof babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. Prematurity is the leading cause ofnewborn death and a major determinant of illness and disability among infants, including developmental delays,chronic respiratory problems, and vision and hearing impairment. To address this growing problem, the March ofDimes has committed to a multi-year national prematurity research, awareness, and education campaign. Formore information contact the pregnancy & newborn health education center at [email protected] or visitmarchofdimes.com/prematurity.
Risk Factors for Preterm BirthWhile the specific causes of spontaneous preterm labor and delivery are largely unknown, research indicates thatthey are likely due to a complex interplay of multiple risk factors, as opposed to any single isolated risk factor.Approximately one quarter of all preterm births are the result of medical intervention, and the remainder occurspontaneously. (3)
• The most consistently identified risk factors include ahistory of preterm birth, current multifetal pregnancy,and some uterine and/or cervical abnormalities. (4)
• Other possible risk factors include: infection (especiallygenito-urinary), diabetes mellitus, hypertension, lateor no prenatal care, smoking, alcohol and illicit druguse. (4)
• In 2012, about 1 in 12 babies (8.1% of live births) waslate preterm in the United States. The rise in latepreterm births has been linked to rising rates of earlyinduction of labor and c-sections. (5)
• In the United States in 2012, 9.9% of singleton birthswere preterm, compared to 58.0% of multiple births.Multiple births represent 3.4% of live births in theUnited States. (1)
• Smoking is an important determinant of health and asignificant factor contributing to preterm and lowbirthweight births. In 2012, 20.8% of women ofchildbearing age reported smoking in the UnitedStates. (6)
• While being obese does not directly cause pretermbirth, it does increase rates of medical complications(e.g., hypertension, diabetes) that do contribute topreterm birth. In the United States, 25.1% of womenof childbearing age were obese in 2012. (6)
Footnotes• Preterm is less than 37 completed weeks of pregnancy.
Late preterm is between 34 and 36 weeks gestation. Verypreterm is less than 32 completed weeks.
• Low birthweight is less than 2500 grams (5 1/2 pounds).Very low birthweight is less than 1500 grams (3 1/3pounds).
• 2020 rates based on U.S. Healthy People Objectives.• All race categories exclude Hispanics.• Women of childbearing age are defined as 18-44 years.• Obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index of 30 or more.
Source1 National Center for Health Statistics, final natality data.2 Institute of Medicine. 2007. Preterm Birth: Causes,
Consequences, and Prevention. National Academy Press,Washington, D.C.
3 Iams JD. The epidemiology of preterm birth. Clin Perinatol.2003;30:651-54.
4 Prematurity risk factors compiled by March of Dimes available atwww.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/preterm-labor-and-birth.aspx.
5 Bettegowda VR, Dias T, Davidoff MJ, et al. The relationshipbetween cesarean delivery and gestational age among USsingleton births. Clin Perinatol. 2008;35:309-323.
6 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention.
National Office
March of Dimes1275 Mamaroneck AvenueWhite Plains, NY 10605Phone: (914)-428-7100E-mail: [email protected]: www.marchofdimes.com
Additional perinatal statistics available at marchofdimes.com/peristats Page 2
We research the serious problems that threaten our babies and work on treating and preventing them.
Our websites provide the latest pregnancy health information in English and Span-ish. Health experts provide personal answers to moms’ questions.
Average medical cost for a
healthy baby:
Average medical cost for
a premature baby:
Number of disorders screened for is out of 31 conditions recommended by the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children.
Sources: Birth defects--Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate of 1 in 33 babies. Surfactant therapy--National Center for Health Statistics.
Average cost for healthy and premature baby--based on insured population, Truven Health Analytics, 2013. Annual savings—estimated based on Institute of Medicine report, 2007.
Our programs help moms-to-be have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.
Through our online community and in hospitals, we offer information and comfort to families with a newborn in intensive care.
Preventing premature birth in the United States could mean an annual savings up to:
$54,194$24billion
We advocate for programs that help moms get care and services to improve their health and the health of their babies.
$4,389
Almost every baby receives a polio vaccine developed with
funding by the March of Dimes. Children in the United States are
vaccinated against 14 diseases.
Each year about 16,600 babies in the United States receive
life-saving surfactant therapy developed with funding by
the March of Dimes.
Babies in the United States receive screening for at least 28 inherited disorders. We funded the development of 4 of
these tests and advocated for newborn screening for
