50 WAYS TO BE AN AMPLIFIER

YOU can be a Perinatal Task Force Amplifier right now! Here are 50 ways you can start –

1. Find out the statistics for your area, zip code, county or state.
2. Become a board member or attend the meetings, as a consumer or advocate – at the health department, crisis pregnancy center, local charity, hospital, fetal mortality review board or other pertinent entities.
3. Contact politicians, share what you know about the impact of Materno-toxic Areas on pregnant women.
4. Speak to Midwives, Doctors, Nurses – find out if they have any thoughts on how to support the Task Force work.
5. Host a clothing, diaper, baby equipment drive.
6. Make nutritious food available for sharing/pick up.
7. Help with securing bus passes for transportation to appointments.
8. Create a community resource list or fact sheet with actual resources – food, clothing,  shelter, accessible medical care, birth control, classes, community-minded doulas, car seats, transportation, etc.
9. Offer free pregnancy testing and facilitate signing ‘proof of pregnancy’ letters for women applying for Medicaid.
10. Help women navigate Medicaid, WIC, FMLA paperwork or online applications.
11. Supervise/entertain older siblings while breast feeding moms meet together.
12. Secure/Provide location for a Perinatal Safe Spot to host clients.
13. Search out business sponsorship or other funding to support a Perinatal Safe Spot.
14. Hold intention for Perinatal Safe Spots to be ‘judgment free zones’.
15. Educate communities re: Materno-Toxic Areas & statistics.
16. Complete COPE or MCH training via the Commonsense Childbirth Institute.
17. Host an information booth or table at a health fair or a baby store.
18. Offer Childbirth and/or Parenting classes.
19. Offer free Doula care – birth or postpartum.
20. Offer Lactation Education.
21. Pray for moms, babies, workers in the Materno-toxic Areas.
22. Obtain donations for the Perinatal Safe Spot to give away – breastfeeding helps, protein bars, lotions, pacifiers, diaper cream, rice socks, diaper bags, etc.
23. Give to Commonsense Childbirth, or other organizations that make a practical difference on the ground.
24. Offer to support tea and conversation for 3^rdtrimester and new moms at a Perinatal Safe Spot.
25. Offer to support father classes, grandparent classes.
26. Create a lending library – books, dvds, cds.
27. Write a press release.
28. Share and create posts on your Social Media on the Materno-toxic Area stats and Perinatal Safe Spot information and availability – Find information on our media page.
29. Share, ‘like’ and link us on Facebook – the links are available at the bottom of this list.
30. Join the National Perinatal Task Force Mailing List, and encourage your network to do the same.
31. Listen to moms in the Materno-toxic Area  –  don’t judge, hear the real needs.
32. Create a way to support the workers on the ground without necessarily being one too
33. Provide respite for the workers – massages, outings, appreciation lunch.
34. Donate toys and books for waiting area of the Perinatal Safe Spot.
35. Become familiar with the real problems of accessibility of local maternity care providers.
36. Donate office equipment – computer, printer, fax, copier, furniture to a Perinatal Safe Spot.
37. Knit/crochet hats for babies.
38. Make fleece blankets for babies.
39. Offer Henna painting, belly casting, pregnancy photo shoots.
40. Offer pregnancy/infant massage classes.
41. Offer to support or host a postpartum support group.
42. Volunteer for “Ask a Doula” phone/text advice.
43. Connect with local Healthy Start or Home Visiting counselors.
44. Host/Provide Supplies for Annual Baby Shower.
45. Host/Provide Supplies for Day 366 Party.
46. Provide phone support for postpartum /lactation issues.
47. Provide a scale for ‘Weigh to Go Baby’ breast feeding support sessions.
48. Provide “First 48” postpartum gift bags for new families.
49. Understand cultural differences, trust the community to state the real needs, honor those.
50. Be creative, practical and authentically caring!