Improving maternal health is one of the millennial development goals and learning more can be the first step to getting involved.

1. Improve Maternal Health
Serena Sheehan
TCOM 220: Social Media
February 19, 2022

2. Why does this resonate with me?
 This Millennium Development Goal: Improve Maternal
Health resonates with me because I think improving
maternal health can have a cyclical effect. This means
that if the mother is in good health before, during, and
after pregnancy there is decrease in infant mortality or
pregnancy-related complications. Future generations will
be healthier, physically, mentally, or emotionally because
of the care of the mother.

3. How can my interest be applied locally?
 There are a couple resources and programs that I know of locally. The
first is Care Net (https://www.care-net.org/), this is a Christian
organization that supports life for child over abortion. Services
include: pregnancy testing, material resources, even medical services.
Some of their locations include Puyallup, Tacoma, Federal Way,
Lakewood.
 The Washington State Department of Health also provides resources
for parents and families. Found here.
 Washington State is also part of something called, Calling All Sectors
Initiative, which addresses maternal and child health issues. The best
way to improve maternal health is to know and get involved with
community partnerships. More information here.

4. Where can I personally make the
greatest contribution?
 My greatest contribution is to educate myself on this issue
and if I find myself with someone who is in crisis or needs
help to be able to provide support. Support looks like
coming with an individual to a community partnership
location whether it’s Care Net, Planned Parenthood, or
otherwise. In addition, it looks like coming alongside the
individual who is thinking about pregnancy, pregnant, or
just given birth to make sure they are taking care of
themselves.

5. Is there a feature of social media that
can be uniquely applied to this goal?
 I think creating colorful, infographic posts could be a feature of
social media that can be utilized for this goal. Many times
information on a website can be dry and factual even if it is
helpful. By paring down what’s most important and having
something eye catching as someone is scrolling through their
feed, they in turn might want to learn more.
 In addition, I have found short Tik-Tok like videos to be another
way to get people to learn more about something. Although I
may spend hours looking at the funny ones, I have also found
educational ones and ended up following for more.

6. References
 https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/maternal-
infant-and-child-health#:~:text=children%2C%20and%20families.-
,Overview,and%20the%20health%20care%20system.