Real Talk For Real Girls
Lakeshia Brown, MPH, CHES
Program Services Coordinator
March of Dimes Texas Chapter-FW Division
Melissa Oden, LMSW-IPR, MPH, CHES
Vice President of Program Development
Girls Incorporated of Tarrant County
Project Purpose
• To raise awareness of the mission of the March
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Of Dimes and prematurity during prematurity
awareness month.
To provide preconception healthcare information
specifically focusing on folic acid.
To raise awareness of the mission of Girls
Incorporated of Tarrant County with the goal of
empowering young girls to make better
decisions as it relates to delaying their first
sexual experience.
Project Rationale
• Texas ranks 4th in the nation for teen
pregnancy.
• 16% of teen mothers in Texas deliver preterm babies.
• Birth is the culmination of the genetic
make-up of both the mother and the
father.
– Healthy parents = healthy baby?
Target Audience
• Mothers with daughters between the ages
of 8-18.
Methods & Activities
• Girls Inc and March of Dimes met to
determine the format of the program and
what activities would be used.
• Activities included:
– Building communication skills
– Participants described the “ideal” mother and
the “ideal” daughter.
– Building self-esteem
Methods & Activities (con’t)
• Mothers and daughters wrote letters to each
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other to put into practice the communication
techniques they learned.
Stations:
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“How well do you know me?” quiz
Mother/Daughter photos in the Rose Garden
Fashion design station
Picture frame design
Methods & Activities
• Fashion Show
Methods & Activities
• African American photo exhibit was
displayed to provide a clear picture of
the crisis of prematurity
Methods & Activities
• A detailed discussion on folic acid was
presented to the participants.
Results/Impact
• Total of 11 Moms and 16 daughters
attended from various cultural
backgrounds, with an age range of
daughters from 6-16.
• Pre- and Post-Test results showed that
81% of participants had an increase in
knowledge.
Comments from Participants
• “I loved this conference. A day very well spent.”
• “Thank you for this event. It’s so wonderful to know that
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organizations do exist to help and encourage us to
become better people. Thank you for making it fun,
informative and especially interactive. I am taking so
many positive skills I have learned with me.”
“First time attending a summit for mother and daughter;
a very nice experience to share with each other to help
our communication skills. Keep up the great work.”
Results & Impact
• Other March of Dimes Texas chapter
divisions have also expressed interest in
duplicating the program.
• Johns Elementary in Arlington has
expressed interest in duplicating this
program as a 6-week program.
Lessons Learned
• Send out save the date cards and invitations at
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an earlier time
Open guest list to general public
Offer program at no cost
Shorten the day from an 8-hour workshop to a 5hour workshop
Have a working lunch to optimize time
Allow for more free and open discussion time
Venue
Funding Sources
• Aetna Medicaid and CHIP services
• University of North Texas Health Science
Center at Fort Worth School of Public
Health
• March of Dimes & Girls Inc of Tarrant
County subsidized the remainder
Implications for Practice
• Provides a structure for health educators to bring
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mothers and daughters together in an
environment with limited restrictions for topic
discussion.
Allows health educator to educate moms and
daughters on how to talk to each other about
sensitive health issues in a fun, interactive
environment.
Program can be modified to address different
needs based on each county’s situation.
QUESTIONS????
CONTACT INFO:
• Lakeshia Brown, MPH, CHES
– 817-451-9174 X102
– lcbrown@marchofdimes.com
– www.marchofdimes.com/texas
• Melissa Oden, LMSW-IPR, MPH, CHES
– 817.275.2120 x222
– Moden@girlsinctarrant.org
– www.girlsinctarrant.org