By: Kathy Myer, RN, MSN

Since the creation of Florida’s 32 statewide Healthy Start Coalitions in 1991, our state’s infant mortality has dropped by 35 percent due in part to the program’s comprehensive approach to prenatal and infant care and education.

But now, Healthy Start funding is in jeopardy due to proposed budget cuts. The potential impact on our community would be significant, threatening at-risk families’ access to Healthy Start services such as education and support for families including infant care and safe sleep, pregnancy care and preparing for baby’s arrival, Screening and referrals for perinatal depression, substance abuse, child development, and much more.

In 2016-17, Healthy Start Brevard…

• Provided services to more than 5,000 at-risk moms and babies; services are provided through various community partnerships such as Children’s Home Society-Brevard and the Florida Department of Health-Brevard.
• Offered education to 90+ medical professionals and paraprofessionals on substance abuse. In addition, 23 educational sessions were conducted at OB offices, clinics and hospitals on Healthy Start.
• Delivered community engagement activities to women in Brevard.
  – For example activities included: health fairs from Mims to Palm Bay, baby showers, community forums
• Performed over 250 outreach visits to educate on birth outcomes; distributing over 22,000 pieces of information on birth outcomes.
• Additionally, the Brevard Coalition participates in the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review, a program that works to reduce infant mortality by gathering data that helps understand fetal and infant deaths in the community. With this information, we can identify gaps in services and work toward improving infant mortality locally and around the state.
• Based on data from 2014-16 for Brevard: 1,271 babies were born low birth weight (below 2500 grams); 91 babies died before their first birthday; of those deaths, 14 were SUIDS (sudden unexpected infant death). Each one of those statistics are centennial indicators of the health of our community; therefore it is imperative to fully fund Healthy Start so they can continue to address these issues.

Healthy Start has had many success stories, but here is a quick example of one: … Upon finding out I was pregnant, I returned to Brevard to be near my family. I had absolutely no idea what resources were available to single moms. I filled out a HS form and received a phone call a few days later. After our first meeting, I felt so relieved. I had information about safe sleep, child development, a free pack n play, low cost car seats, and parenting classes where I could earn items for my baby. Every meeting after that was like a nice visit from a friend. I have had a wonderful experience with everyone at Healthy Start. They have also monitored my daughter’s development and made sure I was informed about my prenatal care. Thank you Healthy Start for helping me to become the best mother I can be…

Healthy Start is a cost-effective model that contributes to Florida’s better birth outcomes. Every dollar that the Florida Legislature invests in supporting Healthy Start has an incredible return on investment in costs saved from preventing death among infants and mothers by bridging the gap to prenatal care and education.

For additional information please visit www.healthystartbrevard.com

Kathy Myer, RN, MSN
Healthy Start Board Chairperson

Planning has started for the the 2018 First 1000 Days Florida Summit September 26-28, 2018 at the Palm Beach Convention Center. Mark your calendar and plan to attend this statewide multi-disciplinary, cross-sector conference focusing on science, skill-building and advocacy for home visitors and other early childhood staff serving expectant and new families with children through age 3.

The inaugural First 1000 Days Florida Summit, held in 2015, drew more than 700 participants from programs in maternal and child health, prevention of abuse and neglect, early intervention, child care and school readiness.

Healthy Start hosted an annual workshop on Friday, November 3, 2017 at our local Florida Department of Health, Brevard County, Viera, Bill Posey Conference Center. This year’s focus was on the opioid epidemic as it continues to plague our community, our speakers gave an in depth look at the perception of substance abuse disorders and explored active solutions for prevention, treatment, and aftercare for our moms and babies. Our Substance Abuse During Pregnancy Workshop was a successful event that provided 5 CEU’s for Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors, Teachers, Dietitians, Nutritionists, and Nurses (RNs, LPNs, CNAs, ARNPs, and Midwives).

We had five outstanding speakers for this year’s workshop…

1) Erin Shea, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Brevard Health Alliance
Changing Perspective: Early Identification and Intervention of Prenatal Mental Health
This session will discussed best practices on caring for and resolving prenatal substance use disorders by incorporating evidence-based screening tools that identify mental health and substance use disorders in an OB/GYN practice. Attendees learned how to incorporate basic therapeutic interviewing skills with the medical model of prenatal care to increase treatment compliance amongst moms with mental health and comorbid substance use disorders.

2) Dave Kneessy, M.S., LMHC, MCAP, MAC
Regional Director, Central Florida Treatment Center
The “New” Heroin Epidemic
Participants were presented with the history of opioid use/ prescribing in the country between 1990 and today. At the end of the presentation, they had a working knowledge of what led us to the heroin overdose rates we are experiencing and how opioid dependency changes and affects the body and brain of those addicted.

What is Medication Assisted Treatment and Our Pregnant Patients
This session provided an overview of MAT from assessment, intake and induction through stable maintenance. There was a discussion of the concept of maintenance medication for a medical disease as well as the stigma and discrimination experienced by those in addictions treatment. Participants were given an overview and information on studies of MAT and pregnancy to the extent that they will understand the actual impact of medications such as Methadone and Buprenorphine with pregnant opioid dependent patients.

3) Sue Bowles, DNP, CNS, RNC-NIC, CBC
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Neonatal Services, Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, What You Need To Know
This session provided an overview of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and best practices to care for these infants based on the evidence. This talk addressed identification of symptoms, methods for assessment, and some supportive interventions to improve outcomes for these vulnerable infants.

4) Traci Klinkbeil, CPM, M.A.
Circuit Community Development Administrator, Department of Children and Families

5) Kirby Morgan, B.A.
Central Region Child Fatality Prevention Specialist, Department of Children and Families, Family Safety Program
Maternal Substance Misuse, Infants, and the Response by Department of Children & Families
This session educateed hospital / health care professionals about the Department of Children & Families that included: indicators of abuse and neglect, reporting requirements, response to reports, service provision and safe sleep. Attendees gained a better understanding of the decision making methodology regarding Child Abuse Investigations, how to assist in the assessment process, discharge planning, and follow up, and creating positive outcomes for these infants.

For more information on our annual workshop please call 321-634-6101