Healthy Start: Strengthening Maternal and Infant Health in Florida

Amelia with Healthy Start is a pleasant helper. She arrives once a month since my baby was born to provide parental support and guidance. She reinforces some parenting skills that help assist with my baby’s developmental growth. She ensures to provide baby essentials on each visit.  We are happy to accommodate the in-home convenient services. The scheduling is very flexible and convenient with family life. My family is always happy to see her light up our doorway with a bright smile and kind words.

I've been in the Healthy Start program for over two years now, since I was pregnant with my first child who is now two, and now with my 5-month-old. Our experience with the program has been a great one; in fact, we've been seeing our home visitor, Amelia, for so long now that it feels less like a "home visit" and more like a visit from a helpful friend. It's been so great to watch my children grow and succeed so quickly thanks to the great tools we've been provided, both with her valuable advice and information, and her assistance with just about anything my family and I could need to know we're on the right track. When I first got pregnant, she helped me stay informed about what to expect for all my prenatal visits, each step of the pregnancy, even birth itself, and continues to provide helpful advice and information for each stage of growth for both my toddler and my baby with each visit. It is also a lifesaver to know that if we are ever in need, Amelia would figure out some way to help us, either by providing necessities such as diapers or wipes when we're in a pinch, or by getting in touch with other local resources that could help us. It's clear that she really cares about all her clients. We are so grateful to be part of such a generous and helpful program, I've learned so much from all the courses that we've gone through together, from great information and advice on how to get through teething or growth spurts, to many different local resources for anything we could ever need as a young family. I think we are so lucky to have such a great program in our community and I would recommend every expecting or new mother to take part in it, it's only one more way to ensure that your family stays as informed, healthy, and connected with the community as possible, and you may even gain a friend along the way.

My Healthy Start worker, Jessica Craig, played a unique and crucial role in supporting me and my daughter during and after my pregnancy. Her guidance was particularly valuable as I faced a variety of complications, including postpartum pre-eclampsia. During our numerous visits, Jessica listened to my concerns and provided me with additional information on various topics and conditions and contact information for several community resources. As a first-time mother, I needed a better job that would support me and my daughter, and Jessica's support was instrumental in this journey. She suggested that I get an appointment at the Career Source program. This program helped me transition into a career in Phlebotomy by providing financial assistance for my education. Through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), I could have my classes, books, and uniforms covered, allowing me to focus on my studies without the financial burden. Furthermore, I was also a part of the Welfare Transition program, which provided me with the necessary assistance to secure childcare with the Early Learning Coalition for my daughter. At the same time, I attended school and prepared for future job opportunities. The impact of the Healthy Start Program on my overall well-being cannot be overstated. The knowledge and skills I have gained through Healthy Start have empowered me to make informed decisions for myself and my daughter, setting us on a path toward a bright and healthy future. The program not only provided me with practical resources but also gave me a sense of community and belonging within my local area.

I first heard about Healthy Start coalition services at my first prenatal appointment at True Health who also referred me to the program. During my time with the program, I received information on signing up for WIC, birth classes, quit smoking help line, therapy, breastfeeding tips, and so much more. The main thing I needed help with was to stop smoking and therapy as I’m grieving the loss of my mother.  Since joining the program, it has impacted my life in such an outstanding way. Being able to quit smoking and learning the benefits of not smoking for the health of me and my unborn child along with signing up for WIC to help ensure I am eating healthy for myself and baby and getting started with therapy has put me on the right path to be the best I can be. The relationship I have with my worker, Ms. Lasonja, has made things easy for me as I am usually not the kind of person who opens a lot. When I first met Ms. Lasonja, it was an instant relief that I had someone to help me and guide me down the road I was perusing. She was so pleasant that it made it so easy for me to open up.  Ms. Lasonja shows that she cares about my needs and concerns as she strives to ensure by time the visits are over, I have the information I need and even when I just need to vent about something she always has a listening ear.

Healthy Start has empowered me to be the best mother I can be! My care coordinator Terrissa has given me nothing but support, love, and motivation. Being a young first-time single mother, I was very hesitant at first to join the program because I didn't want to be judged. I discovered the program when I was in my second trimester and immediately Terrissa referred me to so many places so I can start stocking up on daily essentials for my baby boy. Terrissa would come to my house once a month to check up on me and see how my appointments would go. She also provided me with lots of information on being a mother and taking care of my body while being pregnant, Terrissa and I would go over handouts, and she would break down and explain the information to me. Whenever I had worries, I would call Terrissa and she would always have the best advice this program has given me, a lifetime friend who helped me take a lot of weight off my shoulders. Joining this program helped me mentally, physically, and financially. Since joining the program, I have received diapers, wipes, a car seat, and more. Terrissa inspired me to enroll in school and I will soon begin to continue my education studying Phycology so maybe I can inspire someone else like how Terrissa did for me.

We are very grateful to the Healthy Start Program for its continuous support, follow-up information, and good advice. All of this helps us make better decisions regarding Gia’s growth and development. We also want to specially thank Mrs. Odhet Ortega, our Care Coordinator, for all the advice, support, and structure she provides to keep us on track with Gia and because she is a good and kind person.