In this issue:
June 24, 2011
Multimedia Featured Resource: In an ongoing effort to support state and local maternal and child health programs, the Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs (ASIP) and the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) will continue their series of webinars designed to strengthen services related to sudden unexpected infant death, sudden infant death syndrome, infant safe sleep, and bereavement across the United States. The next webinar, titled Infant Sleep Position and Bedsharing: Using PRAMS to Impact Programs and Policy, will be held on
June 29, 2011, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
EST. Registration is available at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/978432409.
Archives and resources from previous webinars in the series are available at http://www.sidscenter.org/podcasts/2010/asip_amchp/index.html.
For more information click here.
ALBANY, N.Y. — Parents who have a stillborn child will be able to get a birth certificate from the state Health Department if they choose, under legislation awaiting the signature of Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The Certificate of Still Birth Bill was first introduced in New York in 2003, but failed to pass because opponents feared it would impinge on abortion rights. The language of the bill has since been rewritten to address those concerns. The bill in its current form, supported by Family Planning Advocates, was championed by Assemblywoman Sandy Galef.
Currently, parents who experience one of the more than 1,700 stillbirths annually in New York are given a death certificate but can’t get a birth certificate.
Twenty-eight other states have passed similar bills since 2001.
—Copyright 2011 Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
For more information click here.
On Thursday Oct. 27, 2011, First Candle will be hosting our annual Charity Gala at the Lighthouse at Pier Sixty in New York City.
This year’s Honorees are Justine Simmons and The Lancet Medical Journal. Mrs. Simmons is the wife of Joseph Simmons (also known as Rev. Run from the legendary group Run DMC). The Simmons’ lost their precious infant daughter Victoria Anne five years ago. The tragic incident was captured on the then reality show Run’s House on MTV. Mrs. Simmons is the quintessential mother and entrepreneur. Her book, “God, Can Your Hear Me?” was released in 2007 and has graced thousands of readers with its powerful message. She and her husband, Joseph Simmons, co-authored the New York Times best seller, “Take Back Your Family” in 2008. The Lancet is a weekly peer-reviewed medical journal. It is one of the world’s best known, oldest, and most respected general medical journals. In April 2011, The Lancet released the first global series on stillbirths. The series is the most comprehensive assessment to date of the global numbers and causes of stillbirths. The series showcased the work of 69 authors from 18 countries. This year’s co-chairs are Broderick Johnson and Michele Norris. Johnson of the Collins Johnson Group was most recently a partner at Bryan Cave, an international law firm, where he headed the public policy and governmental affairs group, and served on the firm’s executive committee. He previously served as the primary liaison to the House of Representatives in the Clinton White House. Ms. Norris is an author and current host of the National Public Radio evening news program All Things Considered.
For more information please contact Ashawnda Fleming, Director of Development at ashawnda@firstcandle.org.
Dear First Candle Supporters,
It is with much excitement that we announce the passing of new Bill in New York State. This morning, the Assembly Health Committee reported that the State Senate would unanimously, without debate; pass a new Bill granting parents a Certificate of Stillbirth on their agenda early next week. This bill is now in the Assembly Ways & Means Committee.
If you’re in New York State, or know someone currently residing there, we urge you to forward this information along. We encourage everyone – parents, friends, family, neighbors, etc. – in New York to send the below email and include your name, address, and phone number. Session ends on June 20th – 13 days, and the Ways & Means Committee must receive your email before then.
Your continued support is greatly appreciated,
First Candle
Please Copy & Paste the message below and send to the members of the Assembly Ways & Means Committee:
AubryJ@assembly.state.ny.us, BarclaW@assembly.state.ny.us, BoyleP@assembly.state.ny.us, burlind@assembly.state.ny.us, CahillK@assembly.state.ny.us, CalhouN@assembly.state.ny.us, ColtonW@assembly.state.ny.us, CookV@assembly.state.ny.us, CrouchC@assembly.state.ny.us, CusickM@assembly.state.ny.us, FarrelH@assembly.state.ny.us, FitzpatrickM@assembly.state.ny.us, GanttD@assembly.state.ny.us, GlickD@assembly.state.ny.us, HawleyS@assembly.state.ny.us, HayesJ@assembly.state.ny.us, HoytS@assembly.state.ny.us, JacobsR@assembly.state.ny.us, JordanJ@assembly.state.ny.us, LentolJ@assembly.state.ny.us, McEnenJ@assembly.state.ny.us, MolinaroM@assembly.state.ny.us, morellej@assembly.state.ny.us, NolanC@assembly.state.ny.us, OrtizF@assembly.state.ny.us, PerryN@assembly.state.ny.us, PretloJ@assembly.state.ny.us, ScarboW@assembly.state.ny.us, SchimmR@assembly.state.ny.us, SpanoM@assembly.state.ny.us, ThieleF@assembly.state.ny.us, TobaccoL@assembly.state.ny.us, WrightK@assembly.state.ny.us, weinsteinh@assembly.state.ny.us, speaker@assembly.state.ny.us
SUBJECT: A.8178 SUPPORT
MESSAGE:
Dear Honorable Assembly members,
Understanding the busy nature of your schedule, I will be brief. Bill # A8178 will provide Certificates of Still Birth to help families who have experienced this tragedy. Stillbirth is a public health crisis. Every year over 1,700 stillbirths occur in New York State and 25,000 nationwide. The number of reported deaths from stillbirth nearly equals that of all infant deaths combined.
This legislation was first introduced in 2003. The bill pertains only to unintentional fetal demise after 20 weeks gestation and the certificate will be printed with the words “this is not proof of live birth”. Just recently, the bill was redrafted again to reflect a change of title. With that we successfully gained the support of Family Planning Advocates, a group that was previously strongly opposed to this legislation.
As New York State already recognizes a fetal death as both a birth and a death, this bill does not seek changes to any current legislation.
By passing this legislation, you have the opportunity to increase awareness of this issue and the opportunity to have a positive effect on New York families.
Please vote in support of A.8178 – Certificate of Still Birth.
NAME
ADDRESS
PHONE
MCH Alert: Focus on Infant Mortality is developed by the Maternal and Child Health Library in collaboration with the National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Resource Center at Georgetown University. This and past issues of the MCH Alert are available at http://www.mchlibrary.info/alert/archives.html and http://www.sidscenter.org/alert/archives.html
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Please CLICK HERE for more information.
© Copyright 2013 First Candle
