1. Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care
The Benefits of Membership. Paterson, Suite 250, Madison, WI (p) , (f) , (e) (w)

2. What is WAPC?
Largest, most active, and oldest perinatal association in the US
Multidisciplinary individual membership organization
A recognized leader in perinatal health
“As no other organization in the state, WAPC has the experience and expertise to educate physicians, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, community health workers and other perinatal providers. Bottom line -- I trust their work and often refer to it. By the way, membership in the organization is not expensive, only $75.00 and well worth it.”
Mary Jo Baisch, PhD, RN
WAPC members stand united in the common goal of providing excellent health care to women, infants, and families in an ever-changing health care environment. The association offers resources and opportunities to help members meet this goal and the daily challenges they face in the workplace.

3. What are the benefits of membership?
Professional development
Central resource for materials, publications, and consultation
Networking

4. Professional Development
Continuing Education Opportunities
Annual statewide perinatal conference
Annual regional forum series on a timely perinatal topic
Online self-study modules
Basic and advanced fetal monitoring educational opportunities

5. Central resource for materials, publications, and consultation
Electronic newsletter, E-PeriScope
Reports, position statements, and educational tool kits

6. Networking
Colleagues with an interest in perinatal health from many disciplines
State, national, and international leaders in perinatal health
Like-minded people who work to improve the health of women, infants, and families

7. How do I join? Join online at perinatalweb.org
Complete paper membership application and send to WAPC at 211 S. Paterson St., Suite 250, Madison, WI 53703
Include payment of $75 for annual membership (1/1-12/31)
Comment on value- $75 far less than other professional organizations.

8. Tell me more about WAPC…
Formed in need for regionalization
501(c) (3)
Organized into seven perinatal regions
Multidisciplinary Board of Directors and membership
Manages eight program committees
Maintains annual membership between
OK, here is some background information:
WAPC was formed to create and manage a system of regionalized perinatal care. WAPC has evolved to meet the growing and changing needs of individuals and providers during the perinatal period. That period is defined as the time around childbirth, including the three months before pregnancy and one year after birth. Formed in 1970, WAPC is one of the oldest perinatal associations in the country. 
WAPC is a non-for-profit organization, Incorporated as a 501(c) (3) organization under the IRS code
Organized into seven perinatal regions. Each of these regions has an independent governing structure. WAPC holds the Regional Forum series every fall, traveling to each of regions to present a single topic.
Governed by a multidisciplinary Board of Directors. The Board, like the membership, reflects the multidisciplinary nature of the organization. This is what makes WAPC so unique. It is a place where people of all disciplines come together to solve common problems and discuss emerging issues.
Manages eight program committees that represent all phases of the perinatal period. This is where members have the option to get more involved if they would like to work on a specific issues. Many of WAPC’s initiatives were born in the program committees (for example, opioid use in the perinatal period began as a concern voiced in a program committee.)
Maintains annual membership between – WAPC members include physicians, nurses, pharmacists, allied health professionals, and others with an interest in perinatal health.

9. What has WAPC done in the past?
Established regionalized perinatal care
Coordinated universal newborn hearing screening
Established and maintained recommendations for Laboratory Testing During Pregnancy
Implemented 1989 Wis. Act 122 about perinatal substance abuse
Improved care for infants transitioning from the NICU to home
Pioneered multiple strategies to improve pre- and interconceptional health
Educated the perinatal workforce
(Speaker can choose one to elaborate on one - more if time allows.)
Established regionalized perinatal care – WAPC saw a need for regionalization at its founding and has continued to work towards that goal ever since. WAPC established the Levels of Care Review Team – a group of experts from institutions across the state that assist hospitals to self-assess their level of perinatal care. WAPC believes that meeting the recommended standards for each level of care will improve perinatal outcomes by assuring appropriate services and personnel to meet the needs of women and infants. The WAPC adopted the levels of care criteria based on recommendations released in 2012 by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). WAPC incorporated the recommendations into a self-assessment process by which facilities can evaluate the perinatal services provided. 
Newborn hearing screening: Newborn hearing screening is part of the standard of care for every baby born in Wisconsin. WAPC helped make this happen.
Laboratory Testing During Pregnancy – Prenatal care has three major components: a comprehensive history, a thorough physical examination, and laboratory testing. The WAPC Prenatal Testing Committee reviews the professional literature to keep abreast of the ever-changing science, technology, and policies related to laboratory testing during pregnancy. As it deems necessary, the Committee will issue updated recommendations. The Committee began its work in 1995 and published the first edition of its recommendations in WAPC published subsequent revisions in 2000, 2006, and The 5th edition will be published in December 2014.
Wis. Act 122 about perinatal substance abuse: In 1989, Wisconsin Act 122 created a task force to combat controlled substance use by pregnant women with young children. WAPC led the group that was charged with developing a long-range plan to address the problems of perinatal addiction and the problems related to needed services for pregnant women or women with young children. The efforts resulted in publication of Challenges in Perinatal Substance Abuse: Educational Strategies for Care Providers and Communities. WAPC used the publication as the basis for the first of its Regional Forum Series.
NICU to home: Baby Steps, a comprehensive infant care book compiled in a user-friendly three-ring binder, was developed by the (WAPC) for parents and professionals. Pasitos de Bebé, the Spanish version, is also available. Baby Steps evolved because of parents and their expressed need for such a resource. Its purpose is to help parents of babies who have spent time in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) become more competent in knowing, talking about, responding to and getting effective care for their infants. It’s available to order from the WAPC Web site.
Pre- and interconception health – WAPC has been a leader for over 20 years in this area. WAPC created the “Becoming a Parent” materials, which are part of the Healthy Birth Toolkit. These are used widely across the state and include the Becoming a Parent Checklist and Prescription for a Healthy Future.
Educated the perinatal workforce – WAPC is an accredited provider of continuing education for physicians (CME) and nurses (CNE). The WAPC Annual Conference has been a multidisciplinary source of continuing education for 45 years! Much of WAPC’s educational content is appropriate for continuing education for other disciplines as well.

10. What is WAPC doing now?
Identification and treatment of prenatal and postpartum depression
Reduction of the impact of opioids on women and infants
Reduction of rates of Cesarean births and early elective deliveries
Promotion of IOM guidelines for perinatal weight management
Public reporting of standardized perinatal measures with PeriData.Net®
Implemented national levels of perinatal care
Incorporated a preconception algorithm in an EHR
Add paragraph about each for speaker to choose.
OK, tell me about some of WAPC’s current initiatives…
Identification and treatment of prenatal and postpartum depression: the Perinatal Foundation made a multi-year commitment of programmatic and financial resources to address the issue of perinatal mood disorders. The goal of that effort, entitled the Perinatal Mood Disorders Initiative, was to build awareness, promote screening and effective interventions, and support potential research and model projects to meet identified needs. You may be familiar with the very popular, “You Can’t Tell by Looking” campaign.
Reduction of the impact of opioids on women and infants: Over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the use of opioids during pregnancy. Between 2000 and 2009, for example, antepartum maternal opioid use increased from 1.19 to 5.63 per 1000 hospital births per year. WAPC is leading an initiative to improve care of women and infants affected by opioids. The 2014 Regional Forum Series was on this topic. WAPC is also writing a “Blueprint for Action” on this topic, due out later this year.
Reduction of rates of Cesarean births and early elective deliveries: WAPC is educating providers and patients about the value of “coming to term” and how to care for the late preterm infant, defined as 34 0/7–36 6/7 weeks gestation. WAPC featured this topic for its Regional Forum Series in both 2010 and 2012.
Promotion of IOM guidelines for perinatal weight management
Public reporting of standardized perinatal measures with PeriData.Net®
Implemented national levels of perinatal care
Incorporated a preconception algorithm in an EHR

11. Tell me more www.perinatalweb.org https://www.facebook.com/WAPCandPF