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As we complete 2009 we look back at the many projects in which Birth Matters Virginia was involved.
The international birth video contest which included judges Ricki Lake, Abby Epstein and Sarah Buckley, MD culminated with 40 videos being placed on YouTube and close to a million viewers at last count. Our website was viewed by more than 1000; we were covered in upwards of 100 blogs,
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Our Mission To improve the culture of birth in Virginia by promoting an evidence-based model of maternity care and supporting care providers who practice mother friendly care.
Who We Are We are a statewide organization with local groups of parents and professionals who share information, offer support, and affirm the rights of women and families to make informed choices throughout the childbearing years.
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mentioned on numerous website magazines including Mothering Magazine and even made our way into an article in a major Obstetrical magazine.
We actively participated in the Governor's mandated Infant Mortality Workgroup led by the state Health Commissioner, Dr. Karen Remley. Ours was the voice that continually raised the importance of evidence based practices being implemented, the midwifery model of care being integrated throughout obstetrical care and that the education of the care providers was equally, if not more, important than the education of consumers.
We became organizational members of The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) and look forward to Virginia being more involved in assisting with change in our own state as well as nationally.
We have welcomed a new chapter, The Pennisula, into our organization bringing our chapters to nine with more in the planning stages.
We implemented a BMV blog, created a Facebook page and welcomed your input and comments.
Our 8th Annual Awards and Fundraiser event, Sunday November 8th, 2009 at the Renaissance Center was a tremendous success! We celebrated our award recipients, Leslie Fehan, CNM and Sara Farris Krivanec, CD; listened to Robbie Davis-Floyd speak about Birth Models That Work; and had great fun participating in the silent auction. On Monday November 9, 2009, BMV co-sponsored a half-day workshop with Bon Secours Richmond Health System. Ms. Davis-Floyd's talk on the Three Paradigms of Health and Birth Care: The Technocratic, Humanistic and Holistic Models was well attended by health care professionals from throughout the Bon Secours system as well as others in the community. In the afternoon, she gave her final talk to the medical students, residents and faculty members of the OB/GYN department at the VCU Health Center.
We would like to acknowledge the sponsors, those who donated to the auction and all of our attendees. The combined support allows Birth Matters Virginia to raise funds so that we may continue to provide education and support in our commitment to evidence-based care practices.
Throughout the year in our individual communites we facilitated birth circles, birth education series, hosted movie nights, guest speakers and were invited to participate in various health/educational events sponsored by other organizations. Our goals of educating consumers and healthcare professionals about their options and choices, about the healthiest and safest practices of mother/baby care, are being met by these events.
We look forward to a new year, a new decade where each one of us is helping to make a difference in a baby's, a woman's, a family's life. We extend gratitude to each of you for being agents of change. The world is truly a better place for your efforts and conscious decision to participate. May this new year bring good health and peace.
Thérèse Hak-Kuhn
Executive Director, Birth Matters Virginia
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