Mother and Child Alliance

November is National Family Caregivers Month. This month, we celebrate the millions of caregivers in the US who do so much for others. Lots of moms in particular, especially those in the “sandwich generation,” find themselves caring for other family members in addition to their kids. Being a caregiver is rewarding, but it can be hard for caregivers to prioritize their own #MentalHealth and wellbeing while caring for others. Mental Health America has free resources and information that can help. Learn more at MHAnational.org/caregivers.

November is #PrematurityAwarenessMonth! The March of Dimes writes: Each year in the US, 1 in 10 babies is born preterm. We all have a role to play in solving the prematurity crisis in the US. It’s possible for women to have healthy pregnancies, but the US remains among the most dangerous developed nations to give birth. The US preterm birth rate stands at a 15-year high, with 1 in 10 babies born too soon each year. Black and Native American women are 62% more likely to give birth preterm. Learn more about the US maternal and infant health crisis, how you can raise awareness this month, and take action for the health of moms and babies: https://lnkd.in/gQ5b26Pr

October is #DomesticViolenceAwareness month. This year’s theme is “Heal, Hold & Center.” The Domestic Violence Awareness Project says: “We must work together to embrace the many cultural ways we can heal from violence and oppression, hold space for survivors, and center those most marginalized in all of our efforts to end domestic violence.” At MACA, we stand as advocates and allies for all survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence. We seek to realize a world where relationships are free of violence, intimidation, and duress. Some facts: • According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, in the US, an average of 20 people experience physical violence from intimate partners every minute. • This equates to more than 10 million people experiencing domestic violence annually. • According to the World Health Organization (WHO), survivors of intimate partner violence are at increased risk for contracting HIV or other STIs. • It's estimated that 1 in 3 women worldwide have been subjected to physical violence, sexual intimate partner violence, or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. • Vicious attacks on women, trans, and gender nonbinary individuals are reported every day — even as many more go unreported. • The impact of gender-based violence is felt not only by those who are victimized, but also by their children, families, and communities. If you or someone you love experiences domestic violence, reach out to the National DV Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or chat online at thehotline.org. You are not alone! #DVAM

Anne and Scout are sending out early wishes for a very happy #NationalCatDay 🐈⬛ (October 29), from all of us at MACA! Plus an early Happy Halloween from Scout. Cats are beloved family members who provide companionship, affection, and that unique feline blend of elegance, playfulness, and purrsonality. We’re grateful for all of the kitties in our lives! 🐾

Thanks to supporters like you, as of this writing we’ve raised 48% of our $10,000 goal for this year’s AIDS Run & Walk Chicago, and we’re so grateful for the momentum we’ve built! But we’re not done yet. To reach our fundraising target, we can continue to accept donations until Friday, November 15. Every additional contribution brings us closer to providing life-changing resources and support to families in need. If you or anyone you know would like to help us cross the finish line, donations can still be made using the link below. Every dollar truly makes a difference! Thank you again for being part of this important cause. Together, we’re helping to ensure that mothers and their children have a brighter, healthier future. Chip in here: https://lnkd.in/dinbKDBe #AIDSRunWalkChicago

Last month Laurie Ayala, MPH, who is the administrator for our new Perinatal Syphilis Warmline as well as our 24/7 Perinatal HIV Hotline, attended the National STI Prevention Conference in Atlanta, GA. At the conference, Laurie presented a poster that shares findings from the first four months of activity since the Warmline was established. Laurie says: “The poster and our work in Illinois to establish the Perinatal Syphilis Warmline were very well received. There is a lot of interest in novel strategies to address the syphilis crisis. Our statewide clinical support Warmline is unique, but also replicable for other jurisdictions. “We hope to see more states develop similar programs in the future to support clinicians with diagnosis and treatment of syphilis in pregnancy.”

Did you know that we can successfully prevent HIV transmission from a pregnant mom to a baby in most cases? Without intervention, the chances of transmission are around 25%. But with the kind of support and assistance that MACA provides, we can lower that rate dramatically — down to less than 1%! Here's how it works: • We've known for the last 20+ years that certain medications when given to pregnant persons greatly reduce the risk of HIV transmission to the baby. • Generally, the baby is protected prior to birth by the placenta — which keeps mom's blood and baby’s blood separate. We take care to include medications that can pass through the placenta and offer a measure of prevention prior to birth. • When we know a pregnant person’s HIV status, we can also take extra steps to avoid introducing any of mom's blood into the baby’s skin. • Through our case management program, MACA supports pregnant moms in taking their medications to help get the lowest amount of virus in their blood, so that at the time of delivery all these factors together reduce the risk of transmission to the baby. • After that we treat the baby for the exposure of birth for a month. The result? Most babies born to persons living with HIV in Illinois do *not* acquire HIV from their moms — because prevention WORKS! Want to help us keep moms and babies healthy? Donate to support MACA here: https://lnkd.in/g_sEyMs

Sunny smiles on a rainy morning! A few more pics we love from AIDS Run & Walk Chicago earlier this month — including a shot of the race getting started, via the official AIDS Foundation of Chicago Flickr feed! We’re still short of our fundraising goal this year, but the good news is that there’s still time to donate and help support the moms and kids we serve. No donation is too small — whether it’s $5, $10, or more. Chip in here: https://lnkd.in/dinbKDBe #AIDSRunWalkChicago

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve just been approved for a 2024 grant of $7,500 from the wonderful folks at The Dr. Scholl Foundation! The funds will help us "foot" the bill as we provide the moms in our program with much-needed baby supplies like diapers, formula, and car seats. You're probably familiar with the popular footwear and foot care products made by Dr. Scholl's. William Mathias Scholl, MD, a podiatrist, created the Dr. Scholl Foundation in 1947 following the huge success of the manufacturing company he founded, because he wanted to use his good fortune to help others. When Dr. Scholl passed away in 1968, he left the bulk of his estate to the Foundation, which has continued Dr. Scholl’s generosity by contributing more than $312 million since 1980 to various organizations — including MACA. Thanks to everyone at the Dr. Scholl Foundation for helping to keep moms and babies healthy in Illinois! #DrScholl #HealthyMomsHealthyBabies

If you’re looking for a concrete way to support Native American communities in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, consider donating to the American Indian Association of Illinois (AIAI). AIAI is an educational nonprofit that provides scholarships, tutoring, and other support for American Indian students and offers cultural celebration and preservation activities through the Chicago American Indian Museum, Barclaw Multimedia, and the Black Hawk Performance Company. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gD2xAfcA