NYS DDPC Awards Mini-Grants Focusing On Dangers of Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy

ALBANY, NY (12/08/2010)(readMedia)-- New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) awards seven $1000 mini-grants to hold Pregnant Pause events focusing on the dangers of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

The DDPC today announced that on November 8, 2010, the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) awarded mini-grants to seven Comprehensive Perinatal Services Network agencies to fund Pregnant Pause events regionally within the state focusing on the dangers of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. In addition to the funding provided by the DDPC, these grantees will also be receiving technical assistance from the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) to ensure informative and successful events.

Sheila Carey, Executive Director of the DDPC, speaking on behalf of the Council Membership said "The Council members recognized the importance of educating women of childbearing age on the risks associated with consuming alcohol when pregnant. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are 100 % preventable. These Pregnant Pause events will be an important informational event hopefully leading to healthy pregnancies and babies."

New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Commissioner Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo said, "We want all women to know that alcohol use during pregnancy poses a dangerous risk for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Our partnership with DDPC on the Pregnant Pause program will provide the education and prevention efforts needed to increase awareness and help women have healthy babies. We are pleased that the state's Perinatal Networks have partnered with our substance abuse prevention councils to deliver a creative and clear "no-use" message to pregnant women and the general public."

The grant recipients are:

• Buffalo Prenatal-Perinatal Network, Inc.

• Maternal – Infant Services Network

• Mohawk Valley Perinatal Network

• Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network

• North Country Prenatal/Perinatal Council

• Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership, Inc.

• Perinatal Network of Monroe County

Pregnant Pause events are designed to provide information about prenatal care, childhood safety, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) and available community resources in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Pregnant Pause events have been held across the country to raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol use during pregnancy and encourage women to take a pause from drinking if they are pregnant or trying to conceive. These events have been very well received in the communities where they have been held and served to raise awareness of the risks associated with alcohol. Taking a pause from drinking alcohol during pregnancy is the 100% sure way to prevent FASD.

The success of the effort to bring these events to New York State is the result of collaboration between the DDPC and the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS). Support for these events is intended to promote further cooperation between the substance abuse prevention field and individuals with developmental disabilities, families, and disability and community organizations in helping Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders become more widely recognized, understood, and prevented.

Below is a brief description of the events that each Pregnant Pause Grantee will be conducting.

Buffalo Perinatal Network will sponsor a regional Pregnant Pause Event for at least 60 parents and caregivers. Parents and caregivers will move among stations to taste non-alcoholic beverages and learn about preconception care, prenatal care, risks of alcohol use during pregnancy, FASD, child safety and community resources.

Maternal Infant Services Network held their "Oh Baby!" event on October 23. There was a nonalcoholic beverage contest as part of this community event which focused on maternal child health from preconception through birth. Four local bars competed for the best healthy beverage while promoting learning about the ill effects of alcohol on pregnancy and breast feeding.

Mohawk Valley Perinatal Network will sponsor a "Mocktail Party" for parents and caregivers attending the Family Nurturing Center holiday party. Parents and caregivers will move among stations to taste non-alcoholic beverages and learn about preconception care, prenatal care, risks of alcohol use during pregnancy, FASD, child safety and community resources. Local substance abuse treatment centers and counselors and Mohawk Valley Council on Alcoholism and Addictions will provide the staff to serve beverages and provide education to parents.

Mothers and Babies Perinatal Network will implement two prevention activities including Chenango County Non-alcoholic beverage tasting and FASD information booth, and Fox Child Birth Fair non-alcoholic beverage tasting and information booth.

The North Country Prenatal/Perinatal Council (NCPPC) will launch four Pregnant Pause community events in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties. Each event will include a promotional campaign to restaurants/bars to engage them in the event activities. Establishments will be asked to participate by preparing nonalcoholic drinks or recipes to be used at events. The drinks will be provided as a sample tasting at the community events as a way to engage women in conversation about Pregnant Pause.

Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership (NMPP) will implement prevention activities including a Central Harlem Community Baby Shower. The Community Baby Shower will include health education for 100 event participants and a presentation on FASD prevention. A "Smoothie Drink" Station will be available on site to provide participants with a healthy nonalcoholic drink.

Perinatal Network of Monroe County will conduct a Pregnant Pause Event that will target at least 100 pregnant and women of child bearing age and their families from the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes Region. A single 3- hour event will be conducted that will include local alcohol-serving restaurants and establishments who are willing to create and offer attendees their signature non-alcoholic drink.

The DDPC is a federally funded state agency dedicated to designing and implementing new programs that serve New Yorkers with developmental disabilities and their families in the most effective way possible. Sixty percent of the Governor-appointed membership of the DDPC is parents and people with developmental disabilities. For more information on the DDPC, go to: www.ddpc.state.ny.us.

OASAS oversees one of the nation's largest addiction services systems dedicated to Prevention, Treatment and Recovery, with more than 1,700 programs serving over 110,000 New Yorkers on any given day. Through efforts such as the Your Story Matters campaign at www.iamrecovery.com, the agency hopes to foster a movement of recovery, one that sheds the stigma and promotes a life of health and wellness. Addiction is a chronic disease, but New Yorkers need to know that help and hope is available. Individuals can get help by calling the state's toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day a week HOPEline, 1-877-8-HOPENY, staffed by trained clinicians ready to answer questions, help refer loved ones to treatment and provide other vital resources to facilitate that first step into recovery. For more information, please visit www.oasas.state.ny.us.

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