Healthy Start makes sure Sarasota kids have the right head start

Shon Ewens and Washington Hill
·2 min read
Shon Ewens
Shon Ewens
Washington Hill
Washington Hill

Florida’s Healthy Start program was conceived during the 1990s by then-Gov Lawton Childs and first lady Rhea Chiles. In doing so, Florida's first couple challenged community leaders around the state to build local coalitions to reduce a statewide infant mortality rate that was alarmingly high.

Through a variety of programs developed by local leaders from diverse fields, the Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County was born. Over the years the coalition has partnered with individuals, hospitals, medical professionals, the Health Department, CenterPlace Health, the business community, schools, foundations, social services, private practices and many others.

Our task is to provide local moms, moms-to-be, newborns and families with the resources to ensure healthy pregnancies, births and babies. Recently the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation provided resources to help the coalition carry out this important work, and specifically to support education and prenatal and postpartum support for Spanish-speaking women in Sarasota County.

From distributing diapers to providing childbirth education to simply sharing trusted information, the Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County has been identifying and addressing the needs of the county's pregnant women, new mothers and infants.

In April 2021 the Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County raised $286,732 to establish the Dr. Washington Clark Hill Endowment Fund. The fund is helping Healthy Start expand its Save My Life Program.
In April 2021 the Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County raised $286,732 to establish the Dr. Washington Clark Hill Endowment Fund. The fund is helping Healthy Start expand its Save My Life Program.

Thanks to the work of champions all across our community, we have made great strides in infant and maternal outcomes – especially in ZIP codes where the challenges are the greatest. But we are not done yet! Together we can make sure that every baby gets a healthy start, and that every mother has a healthy pregnancy.

We will recognize these champions and celebrate another year of local accomplishments on Friday, Sept. 23 during our Breakfast of Champions 2022 event at the Carlyle Inn and Conference Center in Sarasota.

Visit https://2022healthystartbreakfast.eventbrite.com to register for the breakfast.

For information on the Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County, call (941) 373-7070.

Shon Ewens is the executive director of the Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County. Washington Hill is a longtime Sarasota obstetrician–gynecologist and a Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County board member.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Children, families are getting a Healthy Start in Sarasota County