State Contest Winner: Delaware
In 2008, 12,090 babies were born in Delaware. Unfortunately, 12.9% of births were pre-term, 8.5% of babies were born at a low birth weight, and 8.1 babies per 1,000 died before their first birthday. These statistics highlight the need for innovative strategies at the national and state level to address maternal and child health, including by providing accurate and timely health information.
2011 State Enrollment Contest
The goal of the text4baby State Enrollment Contest was to reach users through healthy competition among the states and engagement of the over 675 text4baby Outreach Partners. The top three states that enrolled the most users in text4baby between May 10 and October 20, 2011 were announced on November 1 at the American Public Health Association National Conference in Washington, DC. The states were ranked based on how many new users enrolled in text4baby in each state during the contest period as a percentage of eligible moms (based on a calculation of estimated pregnancies and live births for each state).
Enrollment Numbers
During the contest period, a total of 481 new users enrolled in the text4baby service in Delaware. With a 97% increase, total enrolled users went from 498 to 979 during the contest period. Based on live births data and an estimated number of how many pregnant women and new moms could have enrolled in text4baby during the contest period for each state, Delaware came in 1st place enrolling an estimated 4.5% (or 45 per 1,000) of eligible moms.
Promotional Activities during Contest Period
Through a mix of engaged partners, Delaware has done a fantastic job helping to promote text4baby. During the state enrollment contest, The University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies (CDS), the state partner lead, has promoted the service by disseminating materials and working with other agencies to share information about text4baby within the community. Westside Family Healthcare, another active Delaware partner, issued a press release in June featuring a quote from Delaware’s Senator Tom Carper. It sparked media interest in text4baby, including a 4-page article that appeared in Delaware Online. The Senator also tweeted and put information about text4baby on his Facebook page.
A local organization in Delaware, Quality Insights, interviewed Westside Family Healthcare’s Chief Medical Officer and Prenatal Nurse Manger about the service to create a YouTube video highlighting the overwhelmingly positive feedback they have received. To keep the momentum going, one month before the end of the contest, CDS sponsored their own contest that entered new users who signed up for text4baby through the Westside Family Healthcare’s website into a raffle for a Babies “R” Us gift certificate. CDS also sent packets of text4baby materials to every obstetrician in the state. They are planning on following-up with each of the obstetricians regarding patient feedback and interest, and will be reaching out to every pediatrician in the state as well. Additionally, Christiana Care Health System together with Delaware's Birth to Three program insured that a text4baby flyer went home with every new mom in the state.
Text4baby State Partners:
• University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies
• Westside Family Healthcare
• Telamon Corporation Delaware Head Start Programs
• Delaware Division of Public Health
• Christiana Care Health System
• Delaware’s Birth to Three program
For more information, please contact:
Karen Zalewski
University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies
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302-831-6839