Nurse-midwives present blankets for babies to Boston area women's organizations

Women, newborns, and families in the Boston area will benefit from the contributions of new and handmade blankets during the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) annual Blankets for Babies public service campaign during the ACNM 53rd Annual Meeting & Exhibit in Boston. Three area women's organizations will receive baby blankets, which are donated by certified nurse-midwives, certified midwives, student nurse-midwives, exhibitors and other meeting guests.

This year's donations will be given to:

• Horizons for Homeless Children (HHC), the leader in Massachusetts and the nation in providing care for young children whose lives have been shattered by homelessness. The mission of HHC is to improve the lives of homeless children and their families. HHC provides homeless children in Massachusetts with the nurturing, stimulation, and opportunities for early education and play that all children need to learn and grow in healthy ways. To improve the lives of the children it serves over the long term, it connects their parents with the tools they need to achieve social and economic self-sufficiency. HHC provides leadership in advocating for homeless children and their families through leveraging and sharing its expertise with others and advocating with policy makers and the public.
• Womanshelter/Compañeras was founded by three women activists all named Jane in 1980 as a grassroots collective. What began as a hotline and counseling program soon added a confidential shelter and support and advocacy services. Today, the program holds fast to its founding principles and has evolved into a leading provider of intervention and prevention services in western Massachusetts, having provided shelter to more than 2,000 women and children and assisting 30,000 others through community-based support programs.
• The Greater Brockton Healthy Families program is a home visiting program designed to support new families by building upon individual strengths to increase positive family dynamics. The program is voluntary, free, and confidential to all first time parents who meet the eligibility requirements. The program's mission is to improve the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. To accomplish this, the organization promotes positive decision-making skills, provides preventive health and social services, and encourages supportive community institutions, which optimize human potential.

ACNM offers special thanks to ACNM members, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, and Conceivex, Inc. for their generous donations.

The ACNM Blankets for Babies national public service campaign seeks to greet local area newborns with a warm, new blanket in the host city of their Annual Meeting & Exhibit each year. ACNM launched the Blankets for Babies campaign in April 2000.