The International Cesarean Awareness Network is powered by the selfless efforts of our numerous volunteers. We cannot thank our dedicated volunteers enough for their cooperation and service in assisting ICAN with accomplishing its mission. In an effort to acknowledge some of our amazing volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes to offer support, education, and advocacy for the mothers in their area, the International Cesarean Awareness Network is pleased to announce Jessica Franks as the April 2017 Volunteer of the Month. Jessica is a dedicated volunteer out of ICAN of Phoenix and a Regional Coordinator who’s been with ICAN for seven years. We appreciate the work she does!
How did you first find ICAN?
Jessica Franks with her accreta survivor friend at her ICAN blood drive for accreta awareness month last October
My husband found ICAN for me while I was dealing with Postpartum Depression. I attended a few local meetings, read endless posts in the chatroom (back when that existed!) and signed up to volunteer with my local chapter and ICAN national.
.
What motivates you as a volunteer?
Helping women! I have listened to endless birth stories at local meetings and sent countless emails helping women set up local chapters. I am very lucky to have my husbands support and have the free time to devote to something I am passionate about.
.
Do you have a profession or any other passions outside of ICAN?
Outside of staying home to raise my 3 girls, 2 cats, and 3 chickens, I do have a VBAC specific ETSY shop. I created the shop because finding VBAC and Cesarean items was so hard! I haven’t really made any money, but at least my arts and crafts pay for themselves now.
.
What was your proudest moment as an ICAN volunteer? What about your hardest?
Proudest moment? Receiving any form of thank you from the women I serve. Hardest moment? It is hard to stay motivated when life gets crazy. But then when I go to a meeting and talk with women who are in the same spot I was in nearly 7 years ago, I’m renewed with passion.
ICAN is excited to announce Jill Panunto as our newest Chapter Leader! “I hope to ignite a drive to lower our cesarean rates, increase our VBAC success rates, and eventually, change legislation to allow VBACs outside the hospital setting.” – Jill Panunto, ICAN of Delaware Please share a little about yourself. I am a nature…
ICAN is excited to announce Sarina Williamson as our newest chapter leader! She has completed training and will be leading ICAN of Greater Mankato! Tell us about the birth climate in your area. We serve the Greater Mankato area of Minnesota, reaching out to Lake Crystal, Nicollet, St. Peter, Le Sueur, Henderson, Cleveland, Le Center,…
We are excited to announce that Megan Nickel-Martin has joined the Board of Directors of ICAN as the incoming Secretary. Megan has been an outstanding chapter leader whom we’ve had an eye on for some time now. She will make a great addition to our Board bringing new and fresh ideas. Megan is also a…
To our supporters, For many people, the holiday season is a time of joy and reflection; a time to reminisce with friends and family about memories past while creating new memories upon which to reflect in the coming years. For others, the holidays can be emotionally vexing, for a number of reasons both internal…
Share your story with ICAN to be featured on our Instagram and Facebook! All cesarean and birth-after-cesarean stories are welcome: the difficult, the triumphant, the still-processing, and the stories which haven’t yet been shared. Sharing your birth story can be freeing, healing and profoundly powerful. It can bring others hope, comfort, and reassurance that they…
ICAN is excited to announce Erin Davis as our newest Chapter Leader! “I’m excited to leverage my training in childbirth education to help moms gain access to evidenced-based information that they can use to help understand the benefits and risks of repeat cesarean and vaginal birth after cesarean.” – Erin Davis, ICAN of Southwestern PA…