The importance of prenatal and newborn health care is a topic that has been identified as important to the residents of Union County.  A group of community partners: Union County Extension, Union County Early Childhood Council, Union County FRYSC, and Deaconess Henderson Hospital, have come together to discuss issues and develop a program for new and soon to be moms.

In response to the above issues, Union County held its 18th annual World's Greatest Baby Shower on June 8th at the Union County Extension Office.  The baby shower was a free educational, informative and interactive program for expectant mothers and quest. The program covered such topics as Safe Sleep, Pregnancy & Postpartum depression and Ask the Expert.  Ask the Expert session allows participants to ask questions to local doctors.  In addition to expert advice there were opportunities to win valuable and useful door prizes.  A light meal was prepared by the Earl C Job Corps school Culinary Department. There were 18 vendor booths for the participants to visit and receive goodies, nutritional information and other vital information .  

The Baby Shower was open to all of Union County expectant mothers.  Twenty-six expectant mothers ranging in age from 18 -38 attended with 24 quest.  Car seat checks were provided by the Morganfield Police Department Chief of Police.  Each of the "Moms to be" received at least 2 door prizes and products totaling an average of $100.00 each as a result of donations from vendors and event sponsors.

The educational baby shower was sponsored and donations by Deaconess Henderson & Union Hospital, KYASAP, Morganfield Police Department, River View Coal, Union County Homemakers, Union County Extension Service, Early Childhood, Union County Family Resource Center, Meade Johnson, Morganfield Wal-Mart, Vaughn Geiger & Associates, Strings Attached, Sincerely Yours Esthetics, A Wild Hare, Yager's Studio, Janet Gill.

The exit evaluations showed that 100% of the participants learned something new and indicated useful information was given.  Community partners were contacted for feedback and were complimentary and satisfied with the over-all success of the baby shower.