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Pregnant Pause Events in New Jersey 2009 (listed by county)

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Pregnant Pause

What is Pregnant Pause?

Pregnant Pause is a community education campaign geared to educate the public about the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy. The events combine fun and festivity with important information about prenatal care, childhood safety, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), and community resources.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is a cluster of permanent, non-curable brain disorders and physical malformations, including mental retardation, that is caused by women drinking alcohol during pregnancy. FASD is 100% preventable if the woman does not drink during pregnancy. The effects of FASD are life-long. It is the most commonly-known preventable cause of birth defects that result in mental retardation.

Interested in developing a Pregnant Pause Campaign? Here are some great ideas!

Pregnant Pause Activities from The Arc of New Mexico

Description

A two to three hour event that encourages alcohol-serving establishments to offer non-alcoholic drinks in an effort to reduce FASD. Radio, television and print media representatives pair up with restaurant bartenders to "mix up" their idea of the best tasting non-alcoholic drink. Pregnant women judge who creates the best tasting drink and awards are given to winning bartenders. The event can be one of a number of activities planned as part of an educational campaign on FASD or it can be conducted as a single event.

Purpose

Increase community awareness about the importance of alcohol-free pregnancies through a fun and memorable event or "party."
Budget: $1,335 with 80 in attendance (cost includes facility rental, food, printing, supplies, media, door prizes and awards.)

How it Works

1. Organize a steering committee that meets regularly several months before the event.

Involve as many local agencies and organizations as possible by inviting representatives to serve on the steering committee. For example, county health workers, maternal health workers, local chapters of The Arc, drug abuse prevention counselors, school health educators, HMO public relations directors and state prevention coordinators.
Committee members should be oriented to the mission and history of the "Pregnant Pause" campaign. Create a number of sub-committees to evenly distribute the workload. Suggested sub-committees include:
Event - Decides all logistics of the event itself, such as where, when and how to carry out activities. Write program script, develop room layout and design and secure the facility (different locations of the event include the local mall, the Elk's lodge or another type of community center).
Media - Promotes the event and educates the public about FASD. Alert local TV and radio stations about the event, asking them to relay the message that FASD is the leading cause of mental retardation that is 100 per cent preventable. Consider seeking preliminary coverage of the event by TV stations. Display table talkers in restaurants during the week of the event that advertise the party on one side and the restaurant's own alcohol-free drink on the other side. Air radio PSAs on a number of different radio stations. ng bus or shuttle service to and from the event for those needing transportation. Consider conducting a poster contest or other popular, well-known events along with the Pregnant Pause event to promote visibility. Decide who the primary audience will be in order to attract a large number of participants. Most chapters have experienced low turn-out rates if they have not attempted to identify a target audience first. Targeting media efforts to a certain population, such as pregnant women receiving prenatal services or pregnant teenagers, may increase the number of participants on the day of the event.
Restaurant - Invites local restaurant participation and acts as a liaison with local bartenders. Select restaurants to participate and contact each one to set up meeting.
Outreach - Involves as many people as possible while focusing on women of childbearing age and pregnant women. Develop a fun, eye-catching flyer to promote the event. Send flyers to obstetrical providers, social service programs that serve pregnant women (such as Women, Infants and Children - WIC), hospitals, health clinics, Lamaze classes, women's centers, baby stores, maternity shops, prenatal programs and schools. Investigate all transportation companies that may be interested in providing bus or shuttle service to and from the event for those needing transportation.
Donations/Door prizes - Obtains the door prizes, food and beverages, and possibly a waived fee for the use of facilities by contacting several businesses and community organizations who may be especially interested in helping reduce the incidence of FASD. Create a listing of door prizes on large sign to be posted near registration tables. Send thank you notes or letters to businesses who provided donations.
Awards - Seeks and obtains trophies/plaques to be presented to winners. Decide on names for winning drinks. For example, "best tasting", "best presentation", "most creative name", "show stopper" and "fastest drink in the west." Also, consider giving an award for best restaurant table display.
Speakers/Entertainment - Invite experts, media personalities and others who can attract a large numbers of participants. Invite a "master of ceremonies" (such as the Mayor or other government representative) to open the event. Consider asking an expert or other well-known individual to make a brief presentation on FASD before the competition begins. Contact health organizations, toy companies and baby product distributors to display their products. Make arrangements for live entertainment or taped music.

2. Decide when the event will take place and how long it will last.

a. Try scheduling the event during a month that is not unusually busy. For example, the month of May is often filled with weddings and graduations.  
b. Consider "piggybacking" the Pregnant Pause event on another event (such as a health or food fair) in order to increase participation.  
c. Two to three hours is generally enough time to complete the event.

3. Create an overall work plan for each committee and designate individuals to complete assigned tasks before and during the event.

4. Develop a timeline for the day of the event that clearly divides responsibilities between each volunteer or staff person involved.

From Pregnant Pause Events Across New Jersey