© 2008 Save Babies Through Screening Foundation. All rights reserved.
The Save Babies Through Screening Foundation is a not-for-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3).
Our mission is to improve the lives of children by working to prevent death and disabilities resulting from disorders detectable through newborn screening tests.
The Save Babies Through Screening Foundation is a not-for-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3).
Our mission is to improve the lives of children by working to prevent death and disabilities resulting from disorders detectable through newborn screening tests.
Save Babies Through Screening Foundation, Inc.
P. O. Box 42197 • Cincinnati, Oh 45242
Toll Free: 1-888-454-3383
P. O. Box 42197 • Cincinnati, Oh 45242
Toll Free: 1-888-454-3383
Public Service Announcements
What Are PSA's?
Public service announcements (PSA's) are educational messages that are designed to focus public attention on serious issues. PSA's are broadcast almost daily on issues such as forest fires, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and the benefits of folic acid before conception. PSA's have helped educate millions of people and have helped changed attitudes and behaviors about many important issues. These useful tools can be a great avenue for mass education about newborn screening, too.
Save Babies Through Screening Foundation is working to produce newborn screening PSA's for several different media outlets, including television, radio, print, outdoor (buses, subways, billboards), and the Internet.
Save Babies Through Screening Foundation is working to produce newborn screening PSA's for several different media outlets, including television, radio, print, outdoor (buses, subways, billboards), and the Internet.
Volunteers Needed
We need your help in making others aware of the benefits of newborn screening. Many volunteers have helped to get the current PSA's aired throughout the country and help is continually needed in developing and broadcasting the PSA's. If you are interested in assisting with these endeavors, please conact us.
Available PSAs
Several newborn screening public service announcements are available to increase the awareness of NBS. Please contact your local newspapers, radio stations and television stations to ask them to run these PSA's.
PSA for Print
Please have your local magazines and newspapers print this Newborn Screening PSA in their publications.
1. Phone your local newspapers and magazines. Ask to speak with the public service or community relations director.
2. Tell them a little about Save Babies Through Screening Foundation and your personal story, if appropriate.
3. Request that they print the PSA below in their publications as frequently as possible.
4. Send them the PSA along with a letter that follows up your conversation. (See sample letter below)
5. Call back frequently to ensure that the PSA is being included in the publication whenever possible.
PSA for Television
Actor Scott Baio (Charles in Charge, Happy Days) and his wife Renee may be more high profile that most couples. But they share an experience common to many first time parents when their child Bailey was born and screened positive for a life threatening metabolic disorder detectable through newborn screening. A public service announcement featuring the Baio family is available for television. Contact us to find out how to air this PSA in your area. View the new Public Services Announcement
.
Radio PSA Scripts
Your help is needed to increase the awareness of newborn screening by having radio stations read NBS public service announcements (PSA's) on the air. Here's what to do:
1. Phone your local radio stations and ask to speak with the public service or community relations director.
2. Tell them a little about Save Babies Through Screening Foundation and your personal story, if appropriate.
3. Request that they have announcers read the PSA below as frequently as possible.
4. Mail or fax a letter along with the scripts to the person you spoke to. Click here for a sample cover letter.
5. Follow up by phone frequently to ensure that the stations read the announcements on the air.
**60 second script
Did you know that the state in which your child is born can mean the difference between life or death? State public health departments decide what to test your child for at birth. These decisions are often based upon statistics and government budgets, not your child’s well-being. Fortunately, parents can have their babies tested for all conditions currently detectable through existing supplemental newborn screening. Parents can help reduce the risk that their child will suffer irreversible mental retardation, physical disabilities or early death from undiagnosed metabolic disorders by seeking additional testing for their child. This testing costs $89 or less in most cases. Many of these disorders, detectable through additional screening, have been linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Children with these conditions can usually live normal, healthy lives if they are detected and started on treatment early. To learn how to get the extra screening that your baby needs, call toll-free 1-888-4LIFE-83 or visit savebabies.org.
**30 second script
A simple blood test could save your baby's life. Many doctors don't know about this test...maybe your doctor is one of them...maybe your child is at risk...many of these disorders are silent killers...death occurs with little or no warning. However, children with these conditions can live normal, healthy lives if they are detected and started on treatment early. To learn how to get the extra screening that your baby needs, call 1-888-4LIFE-83 or visit savebabies.org.
**15 second script
Your baby has a 1 in 1,500 chance of dying or becoming brain damaged unnecessarily from an undetected metabolic disorder--damage that is preventable if the disorder is diagnosed within the first few days of your child’s life. To learn how to get the extra screening that your baby needs, call 1-888-4LIFE-83 or visit savebabies.org.
Sample Radio PSA Cover Letter
[DATE]
Dear [PUBLIC SERVICE DIRECTOR NAME]:
There is no "public service" greater than that which saves lives. Please have your announcers read frequently the enclosed PSA's. Here's why:
*Of the 4 million babies born in this country every year, 1 in every 1,500 newborns is affected by a metabolic disorder that is detectable through newborn screening.
*Babies who are not screened and diagnosed early could suffer irreversible mental retardation, physical disability or even death.
*All states screen newborns, but state public health departments choose what to screen based on government budgets, thus only 10% of US newborns receive the comprehensive screening. Children shouldn’t die or suffer irreversible disabilities because states are in a budget crunch.
*An estimated 5% or more of SIDS deaths are cases of undiagnosed metabolic disorders that are detectable through newborn screening; thereby, death could have been prevented in most of these cases.
*Additional screening is available inexpensively to protect children from the conditions for which their state screens, but most doctors and hospitals don’t know that this additional screening is available to their patients.
*Affected children who are diagnosed early through proper screening usually live healthy lives.
Save Babies Through Screening Foundation urges you to use your broadcasting power to alert your listeners to the need for supplemental newborn screening. You will save lives, prevent tragedy, and truly provide a public service! Thank you.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME] EXAMPLE: Jane Doe
[RELATIONSHIP] mother to John, PKU, age 2
Enclosures [INCLUDE RADIO SCRIPTS ON A SEPARATE SHEET]
PSA for Print
Please have your local magazines and newspapers print this Newborn Screening PSA in their publications.
1. Phone your local newspapers and magazines. Ask to speak with the public service or community relations director.
2. Tell them a little about Save Babies Through Screening Foundation and your personal story, if appropriate.
3. Request that they print the PSA below in their publications as frequently as possible.
4. Send them the PSA along with a letter that follows up your conversation. (See sample letter below)
5. Call back frequently to ensure that the PSA is being included in the publication whenever possible.
PSA for Television
Actor Scott Baio (Charles in Charge, Happy Days) and his wife Renee may be more high profile that most couples. But they share an experience common to many first time parents when their child Bailey was born and screened positive for a life threatening metabolic disorder detectable through newborn screening. A public service announcement featuring the Baio family is available for television. Contact us to find out how to air this PSA in your area. View the new Public Services Announcement
.
Radio PSA Scripts
Your help is needed to increase the awareness of newborn screening by having radio stations read NBS public service announcements (PSA's) on the air. Here's what to do:
1. Phone your local radio stations and ask to speak with the public service or community relations director.
2. Tell them a little about Save Babies Through Screening Foundation and your personal story, if appropriate.
3. Request that they have announcers read the PSA below as frequently as possible.
4. Mail or fax a letter along with the scripts to the person you spoke to. Click here for a sample cover letter.
5. Follow up by phone frequently to ensure that the stations read the announcements on the air.
**60 second script
Did you know that the state in which your child is born can mean the difference between life or death? State public health departments decide what to test your child for at birth. These decisions are often based upon statistics and government budgets, not your child’s well-being. Fortunately, parents can have their babies tested for all conditions currently detectable through existing supplemental newborn screening. Parents can help reduce the risk that their child will suffer irreversible mental retardation, physical disabilities or early death from undiagnosed metabolic disorders by seeking additional testing for their child. This testing costs $89 or less in most cases. Many of these disorders, detectable through additional screening, have been linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Children with these conditions can usually live normal, healthy lives if they are detected and started on treatment early. To learn how to get the extra screening that your baby needs, call toll-free 1-888-4LIFE-83 or visit savebabies.org.
**30 second script
A simple blood test could save your baby's life. Many doctors don't know about this test...maybe your doctor is one of them...maybe your child is at risk...many of these disorders are silent killers...death occurs with little or no warning. However, children with these conditions can live normal, healthy lives if they are detected and started on treatment early. To learn how to get the extra screening that your baby needs, call 1-888-4LIFE-83 or visit savebabies.org.
**15 second script
Your baby has a 1 in 1,500 chance of dying or becoming brain damaged unnecessarily from an undetected metabolic disorder--damage that is preventable if the disorder is diagnosed within the first few days of your child’s life. To learn how to get the extra screening that your baby needs, call 1-888-4LIFE-83 or visit savebabies.org.
Sample Radio PSA Cover Letter
[DATE]
Dear [PUBLIC SERVICE DIRECTOR NAME]:
There is no "public service" greater than that which saves lives. Please have your announcers read frequently the enclosed PSA's. Here's why:
*Of the 4 million babies born in this country every year, 1 in every 1,500 newborns is affected by a metabolic disorder that is detectable through newborn screening.
*Babies who are not screened and diagnosed early could suffer irreversible mental retardation, physical disability or even death.
*All states screen newborns, but state public health departments choose what to screen based on government budgets, thus only 10% of US newborns receive the comprehensive screening. Children shouldn’t die or suffer irreversible disabilities because states are in a budget crunch.
*An estimated 5% or more of SIDS deaths are cases of undiagnosed metabolic disorders that are detectable through newborn screening; thereby, death could have been prevented in most of these cases.
*Additional screening is available inexpensively to protect children from the conditions for which their state screens, but most doctors and hospitals don’t know that this additional screening is available to their patients.
*Affected children who are diagnosed early through proper screening usually live healthy lives.
Save Babies Through Screening Foundation urges you to use your broadcasting power to alert your listeners to the need for supplemental newborn screening. You will save lives, prevent tragedy, and truly provide a public service! Thank you.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME] EXAMPLE: Jane Doe
[RELATIONSHIP] mother to John, PKU, age 2
Enclosures [INCLUDE RADIO SCRIPTS ON A SEPARATE SHEET]
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