Lower Hudson Valley Perinatal Network
Kicks Off Quarterly Education
and Networking Meetings
"Momentum and support for the Lower Hudson Valley Perinatal Network (LHVPN) is growing" reports Cheryl Hunter-Grant, Executive Director. "Our first two quarterly Education and Networking meetings for 2005 were a huge success. A total of one hundred thirty people from diverse backgrounds attended our 2005 meetings to date."
Participants represented the health care field,including hospital and community based providers, managed care organizations, county health departments, health commissioners, physicians, nurses, socialworkers, administrators, lactation consultants, and health educators. Human service and child care providers, educators, business and a consumer were also among the varied audience. The goal of the January meeting was to bring together members of the LHVPN to begin crafting a strategic plan for the Network.
The strategic plan will be aimed at:
- Improving pregnancy outcomes;
- Promoting better maternal and child/infant healthcare;
- Establishing better linkages between existing programs;
- Ensuring families have access to the full range of preventive and primary health care, social support, and educational resources in the Lower Hudson Valley.
The April meeting focused on Recent Trends in Birth Outcomes in the Lower Hudson Valley (LHV) Region and the Abandoned Infant Protection Act. Tim Jaccard, President, A.M.T. Children of Hope Foundation was the Educational Session speaker. Funded by a generous grant through the March of Dimes, the goal of the LHVPN is to meet the health needs of under-served mothers and children in Dutchess, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties.
Future Education and Networking meetings are scheduled for June 21, 2005 in Rockland County, and October 19, 2005 in Westchester County in conjunction with the Regional Perinatal Forum Conference at Westchester Medical Center.
For more information or to become a member of the Lower Hudson Valley Perinatal Network contact:
Cheryl Hunter-Grant
Executive Director Lower Hudson Valley Perinatal Network
914-493-6435
hunter-grantc@lhvpn.net
