Sickle Cell Disease Mission Statement

Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited blood disorder in which the red blood cells that carry the oxygen throughout the body are sickle-shape. The sickle-shaped cells often cause the blood to clot and lead to a pain crisis .Here is a brief history of the agency in which I volunteered at is as follows:
The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America – Mobile Chapter (SCDAA-MC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The Chapter was incorporated in 1976 and is a United Way partner agency. The Association works closely with the Alabama Department of Public Health, USA Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, Franklin Primary Health Center, local county health departments, and the Guadalupe Center (History of the

Their Mission Statement is “Empowering our clients and families with knowledge, through quality comprehensive programs and services (Sickle Cell Disease Association of America – Mobile Chapter)”. There will always be a need for SCDAA because of the stigma that health care providers place on sickle cell disease. For example, The Social Worker at the agency went to the SCDAA convention in Atlanta, Georgia. She met this white gentleman that is an advocate for the Sickle Cell Disease. He was explaining his experience at the doctor. His last child tested positive for the Sickle Cell Trait. The doctor was shocked because sickle cell is consider a minority disease and is often overlooked. The doctor tested him three times because he was caught up in the stereotype of the disease. This is a big issue because people are creating a problem that can be prevented by been educated about the risk factors. It starts with doing more research figuring out the cause and effect of the disease. The mobile chapter serves 95% of African American and 5% of other races according to the director at the mobile chapter. According to the

These numbers were last edit in 2011(DeBaun, 2011). When I actually examine the National statics I see that while it is common for African American to have Sickle Cell it, Caucasian also comely have the disease. When I think about Caucasian as been the majority of the United States population that mines it is a lot of people that are Caucasian that has Sickle Cell Disease and may not even know it. While with the social worker I observe a client that just had a baby and also has multiple amputations. During the interview she did not once complain about her situation. She was more so focus on building a future for her child. I admire that about her. I get so caught up in the things that I am not able to do and forget about the positive things I can do such as walking without assistance, driving without assistance, being able to pick up things effortless. This experience humbled my way of thinking about people with physical limitation. The Social worker and I also visit with another client who is from a rural area in Conecuh county .The client is expecting twins’ one boy and one girl. She also is a patient living with sickle cell disease. I heard the mother of the patient expressed concerned to the social