Medical Outreach: where to start?

Are you looking to impact the diagnosis conversation locally? We have prepared the best tools for you to ensure all new parents with a diagnosis have connections and information.

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Consider these steps:

1. Contact your local Down syndrome organization and join their efforts to reach local providers. 

2. Review the toolkits offered by Lettercase on how to contact and develop relationships with medical providers​​.

3. Request DSDN materials​ 
4. Connect families to local and national resources 

• Find local support
• Find online support
• Find national support

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Additional resources to enhance your work:

• MDSC First Call - trained parent mentors are available, to offer your new parents, 24/7 to listen, share, answer questions, and provide valuable information.  This includes prenatal and postnatal diagnoses, as well as those that want to learn more about Down syndrome to inform their path forward.

• National Down Syndrome Adoption Network -registry of families who are ready and want to adopt a child with Down syndrome

• Videos​

  • A Diagnosis Can Go Well - words from practitioners to parents at the time of diagnosis as told by grateful parents

  • Diagnosis Realities - words from practitioners at the time of diagnosis as told by disappointed parents 

  • Prenatal Experience Survey​ - DSDN surveyed 300 new moms to learn more about their experience

  • Supporting Physicians - hear from a practicing OB/GYN about his experience talking with DSDN at the annual District II ACOG conference 

  • Case Study: A patient experience with noninvasive prenatal screens

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