ABOUT US
THE ORGANIZATION:
North Country Baby Blessings is a non-profit organization enhancing local childbirth choices by providing funds to offset the cost of pregnancy and newborn care to uninsured and under-insured families in Saint Lawrence, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties. It further provides education and promotes health literacy among at risk populations. North Country Baby Blessings supports midwifery care and birth in the community, both home birth and birth center birth, along with education about community birth and its integration into the local medical system. Projects that North Country Baby Blessings has in process include a grant to fund a RhoGAM Program that would increase access to affordable RhoGAM injections for low-income, uninsured women in the community. Also in the works is the development/revision of culturally appropriate perinatal health guides for the Plain communities. In addition, members are involved in a longstanding, low-cost prenatal clinic for the Amish. North Country Baby Blessings is governed by a board of directors and has recently been reorganized into committees, namely an Executive Committee, Public Relations Committee, Fundraising Committee, and Grants Committee.
North Country Baby Blessings is a non-profit organization enhancing local childbirth choices by providing funds to offset the cost of pregnancy and newborn care to uninsured and under-insured families in Saint Lawrence, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties. It further provides education and promotes health literacy among at risk populations. North Country Baby Blessings supports midwifery care and birth in the community, both home birth and birth center birth, along with education about community birth and its integration into the local medical system. Projects that North Country Baby Blessings has in process include a grant to fund a RhoGAM Program that would increase access to affordable RhoGAM injections for low-income, uninsured women in the community. Also in the works is the development/revision of culturally appropriate perinatal health guides for the Plain communities. In addition, members are involved in a longstanding, low-cost prenatal clinic for the Amish. North Country Baby Blessings is governed by a board of directors and has recently been reorganized into committees, namely an Executive Committee, Public Relations Committee, Fundraising Committee, and Grants Committee.
NORTH COUNTRY BABY BLESSINGS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Regina Willette CM(ret), LM, RPA
Regina Willette has been working for mothers and babies since 1977 and has resided in the North Country since 1974. She is a nationally Board Certified Midwife, licensed in New York State. Since retiring from clinical work, she has been a published author, teacher, mentor and activist around midwifery and women/infant health issues. She is a founding member of several national, state, and local professional and advocacy organizations, including North Country Baby Blessings. She is also a retired physician assistant.
Regina Willette has been working for mothers and babies since 1977 and has resided in the North Country since 1974. She is a nationally Board Certified Midwife, licensed in New York State. Since retiring from clinical work, she has been a published author, teacher, mentor and activist around midwifery and women/infant health issues. She is a founding member of several national, state, and local professional and advocacy organizations, including North Country Baby Blessings. She is also a retired physician assistant.
Dawn Rosenbarker, RN, BSN
Dawn Rosenbarker has lived in Potsdam, NY since 1991 and has been working with birthing mothers and babies since 1998. She is a registered nurse working primarily with the Plain communities in the North Country in a community birth setting. She is one of the founding members of North Country Baby Blessings.
Dawn Rosenbarker has lived in Potsdam, NY since 1991 and has been working with birthing mothers and babies since 1998. She is a registered nurse working primarily with the Plain communities in the North Country in a community birth setting. She is one of the founding members of North Country Baby Blessings.
Marie Olsen, RN, BSN, CLC
Marie has been a resident of St. Lawrence county since 2002. She is a registered nurse who has been working in Labor and Delivery and teaching childbirth classes since 2000. Currently, she is home full-time, caring for her family of 9 and doing some private work as a lactation counselor, supporting new breastfeeding mothers. It has long been her dream to continue assisting pregnant mothers, babies and their families outside the hospital. She is excited to join North Country Baby Blessings and discover new ways to serve women in this area.
Marie has been a resident of St. Lawrence county since 2002. She is a registered nurse who has been working in Labor and Delivery and teaching childbirth classes since 2000. Currently, she is home full-time, caring for her family of 9 and doing some private work as a lactation counselor, supporting new breastfeeding mothers. It has long been her dream to continue assisting pregnant mothers, babies and their families outside the hospital. She is excited to join North Country Baby Blessings and discover new ways to serve women in this area.
Dr. Sharon Bernecki DeJoy
Sharon Bernecki DeJoy received a BA from Columbia University, after which she worked in the health care management consulting business for several years. After giving birth to her first child, Sharon realized the maternity care system in the United States was broken, and this led to her journey to become a midwife and a public health professional. After receiving an AS in Midwifery from Miami-Dade College and earning her CPM credential and Florida license (currently inactive), Sharon earned an MPH and PhD from the University of South Florida College of Public Health. Sharon’s first academic teaching experience included the development of a Maternal Child Health Community Health Worker training curriculum, which she taught at two community colleges in Florida. Sharon spent three years teaching public health in the SUNY system in Northern New York before moving to Pennsylvania, where she is currently an Associate Professor at West Chester University of Pennsylvania and Program Director for the BS in Public Health program. She lives with her husband, adult children, several “chosen family” members, and a menagerie of animals in the suburbs of Philadelphia. She enjoys reading, nature walks, and renovating old houses.
Sharon Bernecki DeJoy received a BA from Columbia University, after which she worked in the health care management consulting business for several years. After giving birth to her first child, Sharon realized the maternity care system in the United States was broken, and this led to her journey to become a midwife and a public health professional. After receiving an AS in Midwifery from Miami-Dade College and earning her CPM credential and Florida license (currently inactive), Sharon earned an MPH and PhD from the University of South Florida College of Public Health. Sharon’s first academic teaching experience included the development of a Maternal Child Health Community Health Worker training curriculum, which she taught at two community colleges in Florida. Sharon spent three years teaching public health in the SUNY system in Northern New York before moving to Pennsylvania, where she is currently an Associate Professor at West Chester University of Pennsylvania and Program Director for the BS in Public Health program. She lives with her husband, adult children, several “chosen family” members, and a menagerie of animals in the suburbs of Philadelphia. She enjoys reading, nature walks, and renovating old houses.
VOLUNTEERS:
Lucky Amoding, Student Intern Spring 2022
Lucky is a third-year student at St. Lawrence University. She is majoring in both Biology and Psychology and minoring in public health. Lucky is interested in going into midwifery after her time at St. Lawrence to pursue a career as a certified nurse-midwife. She is a certified nurse assistant and she is working on receiving her doula certification as well. Lucky is currently an intern for North Country Baby Blessings, and she was previously an intern for the Onkwehon:we midwives collective.
Lucky is a third-year student at St. Lawrence University. She is majoring in both Biology and Psychology and minoring in public health. Lucky is interested in going into midwifery after her time at St. Lawrence to pursue a career as a certified nurse-midwife. She is a certified nurse assistant and she is working on receiving her doula certification as well. Lucky is currently an intern for North Country Baby Blessings, and she was previously an intern for the Onkwehon:we midwives collective.