Support newborns and babies by meeting their basic needs. The World Health Organization defines a newborn as 28 days or less, a baby's most vulnerable time. Basic essentials for newborns includes clothing, blankets, sleepers, baby wash, diapers, pacifiers, bottles, thermometers, and other essential baby items. According to Newborns In Need, 1 in 7 children in … Continue reading #53. Donate items to babies in need.
Category: Post-birth
#50. Post ads in newspapers for local pregnancy resource centers.
One major way to support pregnancy resource centers (PRCs) is to make sure your community knows where they are and what services they offer. Contact the PRC and tell them you'd like to help them advertise by placing a newspaper ad. Find out whether it would be easier for you to give them a donation … Continue reading #50. Post ads in newspapers for local pregnancy resource centers.
#48. Go thrift shopping.
First, consider which organizations or people you would like to donate to. Contact them in advance to find out what kind of donations they accept and whether there are particular items they need. Then let the search commence. Thrift shopping is like treasure hunting; many of the shop's wares will be of no use to … Continue reading #48. Go thrift shopping.
#45. Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) or guardian at litem (GAL) for foster children.
A CASA or GAL is a person appointed by a court to represent a child's best interest in cases of abuse or neglect. People of all kinds of backgrounds volunteer as CASAs and GALs. There's no prior special training required (you receive training as part of the onboarding process). The most effective CASA or GAL … Continue reading #45. Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) or guardian at litem (GAL) for foster children.
#34. Babysit siblings so parents can take foster children to appointments.
Many foster parents care for both biological children and foster children. Foster children may have time-consuming and complicated appointment schedules (e.g. therapy sessions, doctor's appointments, visitation dates, caseworker check ups). You can give the parents a bit of breathing room by offering to watch the other kids while they take their foster children through these … Continue reading #34. Babysit siblings so parents can take foster children to appointments.
#31. Talk about your experiences with disability in online support groups.
If you have experience with disability (especially if you have a disability, but also if you are the parent, sibling, partner, or caregiver of a person with a disability), your voice is important. People who have never directly or even indirectly experienced disability may have simplistic--and often overly negative--ideas about what the lives of disabled … Continue reading #31. Talk about your experiences with disability in online support groups.
#30. Support women with unintended pregnancies in your church.
Please note this entry is written with Christian readers in mind, but we hope the ideas are also useful to Jews, Muslims, and anyone else who regularly participates in a religious community. Surveys suggest approximately 4 in 10 women who get abortions were attending church regularly at the time they aborted. While many churches work … Continue reading #30. Support women with unintended pregnancies in your church.
#25. Work with local high schools to support pregnant and parenting students.
Title IX is a law that prevents any school which receives federal money from discriminating against students on the basis of sex, including on the basis of pregnancy or parenting status. Schools that receive federal money are required to allow pregnant students to continue participating in classes and extra curricular activities; choose whether to participate … Continue reading #25. Work with local high schools to support pregnant and parenting students.
#24. Give adoptive and foster families books with adoption and foster themes.
Representation matters, and one way to help adopted and foster children and their families feel seen, heard, and supported is to give them books that reflect their circumstances. If you are friends with adoptive and foster families, ask them if you can gift their children some of these books. If you don't personally know adoptive … Continue reading #24. Give adoptive and foster families books with adoption and foster themes.
#23. Advocate for perinatal hospice notification.
Perinatal hospice provides support to parents experiencing a pregnancy in which the child has a life-limiting condition that may result in the child's death before or shortly after birth. The services can include birth planning; emotional support for the parents; warmth, comfort, and nutrition for the newborn; and medical treatments to improve the baby's quality … Continue reading #23. Advocate for perinatal hospice notification.
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