Spread the word
We’ve got a lot to talk about and plenty of ways to spread the word. We’ll make it easy and rewarding for you to spread our message about folic acid. When taken before and during the earliest stages of pregnancy, folic acid, a B vitamin, can prevent up to 70% of serious, sometimes life-threatening birth defects called neural tube defects (NTDs). Since more than 50% of all pregnancies are not planned, it is vital that the folic acid message gets to all women long before they become pregnant.
Community agencies, individuals, health care providers and leaders can play an important role in saving the lives of babies. We encourage you to become active in our campaign and we can offer many ways for you to help.
Click here to learn about folic acid
How can I help?
To learn more about how you can help educate women in North Carolina about folic acid and multivitamins, please click on the links below that describe you best.
- I’m a health care provider
- I’m with an organization
- I’m an individual
- I’d like to order free materials
- I’d like to join the Council
- I’d like to volunteer
I'm a health care provider…
As a health care provider, you have many chances to affect change. You are making a difference in the lives of many people every day. Whether you provide preventive or acute care, every visit gives you the opportunity to bring up this lifesaving B vitamin.
We also have a unique program called Office Champions. Eighty-eight percent of women who do not take vitamins say that they would do so if their healthcare providers recommended it. The Office Champions program was created to encourage providers to tell their female patients just how important it is to take folic acid during their childbearing years. The program provides an in-office educational session for health care providers along with the appointment of a folic acid “champion” to spread the folic acid message in the health care provider’s office. Office Champions will prompt their colleagues to talk to patients about folic acid, display posters and distribute educational brochures and reminder items.
Please contact us to schedule your first Office Champion visit.
Join the North Carolina Folic Acid Council. This will keep you in the loop with new folic acid research and programs in North Carolina. It’s free.
I'm with an organization…
Even if you don’t work in the health care profession, you can still make folic acid a part of the workplace “buzz”. We encourage you to share our message wherever you work. Here are some ideas for folic acid education in the office:
- Donate ad space in your company newsletter or other publications.
- Place folic acid articles in your newsletter.
- Put up colorful folic acid posters.
- Display our brochures at the reception desk or checkout line.
- Display our information and brochures at company events.
- Host a “lunch and learn” about folic acid.
- Get creative and come up with your own ideas.
Contact us to get started on any of these workplace opportunities.
Join the North Carolina Folic Acid Council. It’s free.
I’m an individual
The first step to becoming active in the folic acid movement starts with taking care of yourself. Be sure to take a multivitamin containing 400 mcg of folic acid every day and eat a balanced diet. You also may want to review other portions of our Web site that dive deeper into folic acid, multivitamins and women’s health.
Another important way you can help our cause is by joining the Folic Acid Campaign Community Ambassador program. Once our regional coordinators train you to become a health educator, you can make presentations on multivitamins to women of childbearing age in your community. The presentations include a short video, a group activity, a question and answer session, and the distribution of brochures and reminder items. Audiences include local civic groups, churches, teen groups, student groups, ESL classes, factory/work sites, moms’ groups, parenting classes, preschool classes, house parties and beauty salons. We recruit women from all backgrounds and age groups to become Community Ambassadors. Ambassadors receive a small stipend for their work. If you are interested, please contact the coordinator nearest you.
Join the North Carolina Folic Acid Council. It’s free.
I’d like to volunteer
With all of the programs and activities we have going on, there are plenty of opportunities for you to get involved. We can find a volunteer job that suits your needs. Here are some of the tasks you may be able to help us with:
- Assembling mailings
- Reaching out to the Spanish-language community (fluent Spanish speakers only please)
- Exhibiting at events, conferences and tradeshows
- Participating in program evaluation and surveys
Contact us for current volunteer opportunities.
This web site is designed for informational use only; it is not designed to give advice or cure or treat any medical condition you may have. If you have any questions about your health, please contact your health care provider. If you need immediate medical attention, please call 911.
