NNLM, MID-ATLANTIC REGION AWARDS PPF
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE, MID-ATLANTIC REGION AWARDS PPF TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENT GRANT
YEADON, PA--As the U.S. ranks 56th in the world for infant mortality, 6 deaths per 1,000 births; Pennsylvania has 6.7 deaths per 1,000 births; while per the results by PHMC’s Perinatal Periods of Risk (PPOR) research project, Delaware County has 9.6 deaths per 1,000 births. The Pettaway Pursuit Foundation (PPF) is headquartered in Delaware County as a maternal health and family organization aiming to empower expecting at risk mothers and new mothers with education and support throughout the prenatal and post-partum period; with the goal of achieving healthy newborn outcomes through healthier and prolonged pregnancies.
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) Mid-Atlantic Region from the University of Pittsburgh, has awarded PPF with a technology enhancement health awareness grant for PPF’s Doula’s Health Education Empowerment Project. Doulas, otherwise known as women caregivers provide non-medical assistance before, during, and after child birth. PPF Doulas also provide aid to expectant mother's partner and family and one on one nonjudgmental in home practical support.
The primary goal of the project is to equip our Doulas in Pennsylvania with mobile technology by using tablets to provide health education using the NLM resources on their MedlinePlus website to our mothers during their home visits. The secondary goal of the project is to assist our Doulas in effectively educating our mothers, facilitating group chats and video chats to remain interactively engaged through these methods of alternative communication channels. The project also includes monthly training sessions for our Doulas to augment and enhance their skill sets to continuously improve their service delivery. The project will conclude by presenting the outcomes and benchmarks attained through this unprecedented piloted project. The community event is scheduled for Saturday April 15, 2017, Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital.
FOR RELEASE: Thursday January 12, 2017
Contact: Carmina Taylor, (215) 284-5680
Theresa Pettaway (610) 394-3515