DUE TO COVID-19 CDC GUIDELINES THE OFFICE IS CLOSED - WE ARE STILL WORKING FROM HOME!
Martha Zimmermann, Ex. Dir mzimmermann@hscsrc.org
Katrina Ryan hscadmin@hscsrc.org
Deb Shuler, Supervisor dshuler@hscsrc.org
Our amazing team of coalition workers and service providers work hard at serving our community to meet the needs of expectant and new families.
Healthy Start Florida started with a realization that pregnant women and newborns were not getting the care needed to insure healthy pregnancies, healthy babies. Premature births and infant mortality were high. Because of healthy start and providing services to pregnant women and new parents, the number of infant death and preterm delivery has dropped drastically over the last 25 years.
The Healthy Start Coalition of Santa Rosa County, Inc. is a local, non profit, 501(c)3 organization that works with moms and babies to ensure they have the services and care they need to live a long and healthy life!
Healthy Start is the foundation for early intervention, child protection, and school readiness programs. A healthy baby saves state tax dollars: for every $1 spent on preventing an unhealthy birth, $6 is saved in neonatal intensive care costs, recurrent hospital and medical expenses paid by Medicaid, exceptional and remedial education, child abuse and neglect investigations, and disability and dependency costs.
March 25th, 2020
As the world continues to monitor the impact and spread of COVID-19, we want to ensure you that we, the Healthy Start Coalition of Santa Rosa County, are monitoring it as well. We are taking every precaution we can, while working within the best practices set forth by the CDC, the Florida Department of Health, and the Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions. It is and always has been our number one priority to help pregnant women stay healthy throughout their pregnancies and give birth to healthy babies. Now more than ever, our mission is crucial.
Last week, our staff worked hard to prepare our office and make the transition to work remotely from our homes. We worked with staff at the OB/GYN Offices to guarantee our Prenatal Risk Screening Forms are still being given to pregnant women at their first OB appointment, as well as providing them with materials to mail those screens to us. Our Coordinated Intake and Referral Team and our Services Providers are working together to continue to contact clients and provide services. Our “home-visiting” services will now be provided over the phone or through virtual videos where available. Our team has worked tirelessly to put internal protocols into place based on recommendations and guidance from the Florida Association of Healthy Start regarding technology, working remotely, and HIPAA.
Update on our Baby Shower:
Unfortunately, the decision was made to postpone our Baby Shower due to concerns over the Coronavirus. We made this decision to minimize the spread of the virus and reduce the risk to our community’s pregnant women and infants. Currently, our intention is still to reschedule the event because this event is more than a celebration for growing families; this event connects parents with so many useful organizations and resources. The Santa Rosa County Auditorium has ensured us that they will work with us to rebook and are hoping to offer us some potential dates soon. We appreciate your patience during this time of uncertainty.
Even though our office is closed, we are working remotely and encourage you to contact us with any questions or concerns. We are also updating our website www.healthystartsantarosa.org and our https://www.facebook.com/healthystartSRC/ regularly.
Please email us and we will reach out as soon as possible
Martha Zimmermann, Executive Director mzimmermann@hscsrc.org
Katrina Ryan, Office Coordinator – hscadmin@hscsrc.org
*For all Baby Shower related questions
Deb Shuler, Coordinated Intake and Referral Supervisor – dshuler@hscsrc.org or call/text (850) 776-3830 *For Community Referrals or if you are a Healthy Start Client or
looking to become one* or if you are an OB Office with questions regarding screening*
As things are always changing, we will do our best to keep everyone informed of changes on our end.
Thank you,
The Healthy Start Coalition of Santa Rosa County
Connect Services offer referrals as well as program services if desired. Please call 850-262-2992 or text 850-776-3830 for more info
DUE TO THE CURRENT SITUATION WE ARE POSTPONING OUR SPRING BABY SHOWER UNTIL A LATER DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED.
Healthy Start Hosts an Annual Baby Shower every year. With the help of our community partners and folks like you we are able to supply information on service programs and supplies that can help us aid families in need. The baby shower is packed with fun and games from programs and businesses all over Santa Rosa County. Door prizes are given out all throughout the event help out local families! Examples of donated prizes (other than monetary) are: changing tables, rockers, washer/dryer, diapers & baby care items, family fun nights, gift cards, grocery cards and anything else you can imagine to help families!
P.S. Not one dime of your donation will be used for anything other than serving families in our community!!
Because sometimes you need a little help. Healthy Start sponsors a diaper drive for families in need. Parents are allowed to pick up diapers once a quarter when things get tight or there is a general need from uncontrollable circumstance . The majority of diapers are donated by area churches and community members. If you would like to donate diapers, funds or fill out a voucher, please call 850-626-6751 for more information or click the donate now button. Thank you so much for supporting our families of Santa Rosa County.