Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition Inc

UNITE PEOPLE AND RESOURCES TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF PREGNANT WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH CARE COORDINATION, CASE MANAGEMENT, PREGNANCY AND LABOR SUPPORT, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, LABOR DOULA SERVICES & TRANSPORTATION TO PRENATAL, POSTPARTUM APPTS.

THE HEALTHY START PROGRAM CONTINUED TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO OVER 75% OF ALL NEW AND GROWING FAMILIES IN MONROE COUNTY WHO WELCOMED CHILDREN THIS YEAR. INDIVIDUAL SERVICES ARE TAILORED TO A FAMILYS NEEDS AND INCLUDE CARE COORDINATION, CASE MANAGEMENT, REFERRALS, AND INTERCONCEPTIONAL CARE. HEALTHY START SERVES AS OUR OVERALL ASSESSMENT RESOURCE AND REFERRAL SYSTEM. ACCESS TO SERVICES BEGINS WITH A PRENATAL SCREEN COMPLETED AT A WOMANS FIRST OBSTETRICAL DOCTORS APPOINTMENT. INFANTS ARE ALSO SCREENED AT BIRTH TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE FACTORS THAT COULD IMPACT A BABYS HEALTH OR DEVELOPMENT IN THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE. HEALTHY START FACILITATED SCREENING AND ASSESSMENT OF 1,010 PREGNANT WOMEN AND INFANTS IN JULY 2021-JUNE 2022 TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL RISKS FOR POOR BIRTH OUTCOMES AND DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS. INTAKE STAFF ASSESSED 866 CLIENTS AND REFERRED THEM TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO INCLUDE ENROLLMENT IN HEALTHY START INTERVENTION SERVICES.

HEALTHY BABIES ADDRESSES THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF PARENTS AND BABIES DURING PREGNANCY AND THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF LIFE. IN FY 2021-2022, WE PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION TO 106 PREGNANT WOMEN TO 141 SUBSIDIZED PRENATAL CARE APPOINTMENTS, DRIVING A TOTAL OF 3,885 MILES. WE PROVIDED OVER 266 HOURS OF ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING SESSIONS WITH OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TO 34 PARENTS EXPERIENCING PMAD (PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION). TO MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS OF OUR CLIENT POPULATION, WE RECRUITED BILINGUAL PROFESSIONALS AND NOW OFFER COUNSELING TO FAMILIES SPEAKING HAITIAN CREOLE, SPANISH AND ENGLISH. WE COACHED 18 PARENTS TO MEET THEIR BREASTFEEDING GOALS THROUGH VIRTUAL CLASSES. IN ORDER TO SERVE MORE FAMILIES THROUGH THEIR BREASTFEEDING JOURNEYS, WE BEGAN TRAINING 15 VOLUNTEERS TO BECOME CERTIFIED LACTATION COUNSELORS AND BREASTFEEDING CHAMPIONS IN THE KEYS. 21 FAMILIES WERE EMPOWERED FOR THEIR CHILDBIRTH EXPERIENCE THROUGH VIRTUAL CHILDBIRTH CLASS.

KEYS TO SUPPORTING FAMILIES IS OUR NEWEST PROGRAM, ADDRESSING ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, FOOD SECURITY, AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH BY PROVIDING BABY SUPPLIES SUCH AS DIAPERS, STROLLERS, FORMULA, BABY FOOD, CLOTHING, AND MUCH MORE. THROUGH THE PROVISION OF COSTLY YET VITAL BABY ITEMS/SUPPLIES, OUR SUPPORT ALLOWS FAMILIES FINITE RESOURCES TO COVER OTHER COSTS AND BASIC NEEDS, ESPECIALLY HOUSING, UTILITIES, AND FOOD. DURING OUR FISCAL YEAR OF 2021-2022, WE SUPPLIED OVER 800 STRUGGLING FAMILIES WITH 100,000+ DIAPERS AND 80,000+ WIPES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES AND DISTRIBUTION SITES, FKHSC IS THE GO-TO AGENCY FOR FORMULA AND BABY FOOD, PROVIDING NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT TO FAMILIES IN THE KEYS.