The Story of Folic Acid Woman

1
The Story of Folic Acid Woman

• Sue Samuels BSN RN
• Community Educator
• Community Based Women Childrens Health
  Services
• Christiana Care Health System
• Wilmington, Delaware

2
A Shared Venture

• Christiana Care Health System
• Delaware Chapter, March of Dimes

3
In the Beginning

• Folic Acid Coalition members included
• March of Dimes
• WIC
• Spina Bifida Program Coordinator
• Happy Harrys pharmacist
• Perinatal Association of Delaware Resource
  Mothers
• Wilmington Healthy Start Preconception Nurse
• Other community members
• Public Health Nurses including Pat Starke

4
Brainstorming is Useful

• We talked about ways to get vitamins to women in
  need
• A program for school aged children was on the
  table
• Pat said we needed a super hero to appeal to
  children and help get the message across
• We were all midwives to the birth of Folic Acid
  Man

5
Folic Acid Man Grows

• A costume was designed by Pat and a local costume
  designer
• Folic Acid Man began appearing at health fairs
  and other venues
• People flocked to his side
• They listened to the message

6
Another Brainstorm

• Folic Acid Man decided he needed to be
  memorialized in print!
• The entire coalition worked on middle school
  appropriate activities
• The students at Cab Calloway School of the Arts
  designed the activity book
• The Delaware Department of Education reviewed the
  book to be sure it connected with learning
  objectives

7
The Activity Book Debuts

• A press event was held at Cab Calloway
• Schools were invited to use the book
• Folic Acid man was loved by all

8
Disaster!

• Folic Acid Man moved on to other employment
• A coalition member volunteered to be Folic Acid
  Woman, then had an accident and was unable to
  participate
• Christiana Care Health System received a grant
  from MOD to carry on the folic acid education
• New community educators were appointed, and they
  developed a presentation including a play to be
  performed by the children

9
Metamorphosis begins

• In August, 2003 a new Community Educator began
  working with the Folic Acid grant and chairing
  the Coalition
• A new costume was designed for Folic Acid Woman
  and presentations were done across the state
• 408 youth were visited in the last four months of
  2003

10
Networking is where its at

• In Fall 2003 the educator visited the Womens
  Health Expo in Dover, DE
• Lissa Frank, Director of Program Services at the
  Chesapeake Bay Girl Scouts Council, asked
• Wheres Folic Acid Woman?
• The answer was.Shes coming as soon as her
  costume is finished!

11
Metamorphosis Completed

• One meeting yielded Lissas brainstorm of a Folic
  Acid Woman Patch
• The patch was designed from the logo on the FAW
  costume
• The program was written
• by Lissa and debuted at
• the Fall School of the Chesapeake Bay Girl Scouts
  in August, 2004, borrowing activities from
  several programs including CDC

12
Brownie Junior Scouts Complete 4 activities

• With your troop or group, discuss the reasons
  that folic acid is an important part of your diet
  and where you get it. In your own words, be able
  to explain the importance of folic acid in your
  diet.

13
For Teen Girl Scouts

• Ask your health care provider for folic acid
  information. If they do not have printed
  materials available, offer to obtain some for
  them from the CDC to distribute in their office.

14
Results of the Programs

• In 2004, more than 3000 youth were touched by
  Folic Acid Woman in classroom presentations or
  events at health fairs.
• The Folic Acid Woman Patch results will not be
  available until late spring 2005 when the program
  year is up and patch purchases are done.

15
Continuation

• Lissa is happy to share the program with anyone
  who is interested
• Lissa Frank Director of Program Services Girl
  Scouts of Chesapeake Bay 501 S. College Ave.
  Newark, DE  19713 302-456-7150 ext. 7167
  800-341-4007 302-456-7188 (fax)
  lfrank_at_cbgsc.org

16
Continuation

• Folic Acid Man Activity Books can be ordered
  through
• Sue Samuels BSN RN
• Community Educator
• Christiana Care Health System
• 3408 CSB
• PO Box 1668
• Wilmington DE 19899
• 302-428-6582
• SSamuels_at_christianacare.org