The Niagara County Department of Health was awarded a $15,000 Maternal and Child Health "Hot Spots" Grant from the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York.
The grant will fund a project to improve maternal and child health by focusing on birth outcomes and children's physical and emotional development. The project will focus on women of childbearing age and children ages 0-5 who reside in the City of Niagara Falls, more specifically, ZIP codes 14301, 14303 and 14305.
"This project is another great example of how the Niagara County Department of Health actively works with communities to protect and advance the health and quality of life of women and children," Public Health Director Daniel Stapleton said.
The grant will support the "Positive Pregnancy and Parenting Project," which will begin in early 2018.
"The Positive Pregnancy and Parenting Project will provide the opportunity to work with community members in gaining the knowledge, skills and resources needed to empower mothers in making positive choices in both pregnancy and parenting," stated Elise Pignatora, director of public health planning and emergency preparedness.
The Niagara County Department of Health will offer a multi-week series of workshop in Niagara Falls to include topics such as breastfeeding, safe sleep, lead screening and prevention, chronic disease reduction, developmental screening for young children, family spacing, positive parenting and stress reduction. Topics are aligned with the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion 2020 goals and other indicators for the target population. Health department subject matter experts, as well as local community partners, will present each session.
"We are working collaboratively, in a unified effort, to accomplish the vision of every child achieving optimal health," Director of Nursing Kathleen Cavagnaro said.
Participants will receive resources and information for services offered by the local health department as well as providers in their community. Incentive will be offered to participants who successfully complete the full workshop. Child care and transportation for each of the sessions will be provided as needed.
For more information on the "Positive Pregnancy and Parenting Project," call the division of public health planning and emergency preparedness at 716-439-7431.
