Thank you Sara Paulson of Florida Today for giving us the opportunity to be in her Momsense column and the cover of the Celebrate Brevard section of the paper on July 17, 2014. Please read her article on Healthy Start here…
http://www.floridatoday.com/story/life/style/2014/07/16/healthy-start-available-kids-moms/12743729/
Suntree United Methodist Church provided over 38 hours volunteering at Healthy Start during their E3 week in July 2014. We appreciate all of their hard work and dedication to helping moms and babies of Brevard County.
Thank you Suntree United Methodist Church.
by By Central Florida Humanitarians, appearing in SpaceCoastDaily.com on 11/1/2013
There is an excellent reason why the Board of Brevard County Commissioners chose to name the new Brevard County Health Department facility after Dr. Heidar Heshmati. Under Heidar Heshmati’s more than three decades of tenure, the Health Department has received numerous accolades at both the state and national levels for the quality and breadth of services it provides.
Brevard County ranks first in the state on health indicators such as infant mortality rates, maternal and child care and infectious disease mortality among counties with populations of 400,000 or more. Leading the county in this achievement is Dr. Heidar Heshmati, associated with the Brevard County Health Department since 1983.
The Health Department’s current director, Heshmati is the Health Department, a seemingly unstoppable dynamo that constantly endeavors to strengthen medical services to the community. He has earned the respect of his peers, health care providers and education and community leaders. He is the consummate public servant.
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER
Under Dr. Heshmati’s more than three decades of tenure, the Health Department has received numerous accolades at both the state and national levels for the quality and breadth of services it provides.
Since 2000, the department has earned 12 National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Model Practices Awards as well as five NACCHO Promising Practices kudos and 50 Davis Productivity Awards.
Dr. Heidar Heshmati has worked closely with both private and public sectors to meet the need for essential medical care for those who fall through the cracks of today’s healthcare system.
Thanks in large part to Dr. Heshmati, Brevard County has the distinction of being the only county in the United States to have been recognized nationally with 10 model practice programs.
Dr. Heshmati has worked closely with both private and public sectors to meet the need for essential medical care for those who fall through the cracks of today’s healthcare system.
At a time when the field is under tremendous pressure to contain costs, Dr. Heshmati orchestrated community partnerships that resulted in PATH, the Primary Access to Health Clinic, involvement to provide compassionate, effective care for needy, uninsured individuals with acute, episodic and chronic health conditions.
Dr. Heidar Heshmati was installed as the 2009 President of the Brevard County Medical Society by Dr. Glenn Bryan.
A partnership with the Health Department, the Board of County Commissioners, the Brevard County Medical And Dental Society, Brevard schools, area hospitals and volunteer physicians has pooled resources for medical care to those in need.
The Volunteer Adult Dental Clinic, which Dr. Heshmati helped launch, pairs community dentists who contribute their time and talent with adult indigent clients who desperately need dental care but have no financial means to access it.
The plan ensures prenatal care for every citizen, regardless of their ability to pay. No other county in Florida offers this type of quality care to indigent and low-income pregnant women.
The Colposcopy Clinic was developed to provide early intervention and treatment of clients with abnormal pap smears, thus lessening the occurrence of cervical, vaginal and uterine cancers.
Thanks to Dr. Heshmati’s efforts, maternal care in Brevard has been revolutionized, despite an environment of funding decreases, litigation and an exodus of obstetricians. His plan ensures prenatal care for every citizen, regardless of their ability to pay. No other county in Florida offers this type of quality care to indigent and low-income pregnant women.
Family planning services led by Heshmati included the no-scalpel vasectomy, making Brevard’s the first health department in the nation to provide this method of permanent family planning.
PROTECTING COMMUNITY’S MOST VULNERABLE
Brevard’s 72 miles and its significant number of public health events can be challenging, but Dr. Heshmati’s vision and innovative approach not only have positively impacted the people of the Space Coast, but the rest of Florida as well.
Brevard’s location as a coastal county heavily dependent on tourism necessitated a comprehensive plan of action to control any infectious diseases, and Dr. Heshmati stepped up to the plate with the investigation and elimination of at least five vaccine-preventable outbreaks aboard cruise ships.
The department’s disease control units are considered the best in the state and Heshmati was invited to discuss his experiences by the Centers for Disease Control.
As part of core public health mandate to protect the health and welfare of the county’s most vulnerable citizens during times of natural disasters, the Health Department under Dr. Heshmati’s lead partnered in developing a network of care for special needs citizens during a disaster event.
GENEROUS WITH TIME & TALENT
Despite his busy work schedule, Heshmati has served as board member for Circles of Care, Brevard Heath Alliance, Brevard County Medical Society, the Dental Advisory Board, Healthy Start Child Care Association and Health Care Forum, among others.
He received the Governor’s Partnership for Children Award in recognition of improving the health and wellbeing of all Florida children through his Immunization Action Plan Partnership.
Dr. Heshmati’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. He received the Governor’s Partnership for Children Award in recognition of improving the health and wellbeing of all Florida children through his Immunization Action Plan Partnership.
The Brevard County Medical Society, the Board of County Commissioners, Brevard Public Schools, the Centers for Disease Control, the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Medical Association, the Florida Public Health Association, the Florida State Surgeon General, FMU-Orlando College and Health First have all formally recognized this champion of public health.
ABOUT THE 2013 CENTRAL FLORIDA HUMANITARIAN AWARDS
The Central Florida Humanitarian Awards were created to recognize outstanding individuals and organizations that dedicate their Time, Talent or Treasure to help people in need locally – and around the world.
“Over the years, our editorial team has had the distinct honor and pleasure of identifying and featuring the many members of our community who give back so much and are dedicated to reaching out and helping others, here and throughout the world, in a multitude of ways,” said Maverick Multimedia Editor-In-Chief Dr. Jim Palermo.
All Humanitarian alumni are presented a specially commissioned medallion.
“We remain firmly committed to identifying and telling those stories and providing a timely media platform to recognize Space Coast and Central Florida residents’ altruistic contributions on a regular basis in our magazines, as well as SpaceCoastDaily.com,” said Dr. Palermo.
By Space Coast Daily // October 24, 2013
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — The Healthy Start Coalition is a non-profit that provides moms, newborns and families with the resources, help and support they need to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
When Glenda Rigby found out she was pregnant she was nervous and like most moms she was a little overwhelmed with the idea that in nine short months she would be responsible for another tiny little person.
She also worried about managing all the expense given she had a retail job and her husband worked at Port Canaveral in refrigeration. These are not Wall Street jobs and having a baby is expensive.
Then Rigby’s obstetrician told about the Healthy Start Program. The goal of Healthy Start is to reduce infant mortality, reduce the number of low birth weight babies and improve health and developmental outcomes of all Florida’s babies.
While help with diapers, baby clothes and baby food was very much appreciated, Rigby said, what really made a difference was the referrals and support the family received.
“They gave us a lot of resources, helping us with food, educational baby classes and even sending out a care coordinator to help me through some anxiety and depression during my pregnancy.” Rigby said.
“They were there for me. My care coordinator, Mary, she is an amazing person. Everyone should have someone like that to guide you through your first pregnancy. I am so grateful for Healthy Start.”
St. Mary’s Catholic School is holding a diaper and clothing drive for Healthy Start during its annual Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 26. After six years, the festival organizers – parents themselves – decided to give back to the community that gives so much to the school.
“We thought it was a great idea,” said festival chair Daine Braswell.
“We are blessed to have community members come to our event and help us raise money for our school. We thought, why not pay it forward and help another group that helps children. We couldn’t think of a better organization than Healthy Start for our inaugural efforts.”
Bins will be located at the festival to collect new toys and diapers. Guests are invited to bring donations and then enjoy a fun-filled afternoon that is family friendly. From a petting zoo and life-size Angry Bird slingshot games to a costume contest and pie bake off, there are activities for children of all ages.
Cost varies per activity, but nothing is over $3.
“We’re happy to partner with St. Mary’s to help our clients,” said Jennifer Schwalb Floyd, Executive Director for Healthy Start Coalition of Brevard.
32 HEALTHY START COALITIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE
“Every child deserves a healthy start in life and we provide many services from education and resources to counseling for the pregnant women and babies in our community that need it most..” Florida’s Healthy Start was enacted by state legislation in 1991 with the goals of reducing infant mortality, reducing the number of low birth weight babies and improving health and developmental outcomes for all Florida’s babies.
There are 32 Healthy Start Coalitions throughout the state. Rigby, who now has a seven-month old boy, said she will always be grateful to Healthy Start and that she and her husband tell people about it every chance they get.
“I think Healthy Start is amazing I truly believe in giving your baby the healthiest start,” said the Cocoa Beach resident.
“I threw away my cigarettes when I found out I was pregnant with my first child and still have not started up again. I didn’t even eat chocolate, because it has caffeine. I believe in doing what’s best for your baby and making those 9 months as healthy as possible to give them the best chance of living a healthy life for the rest of their lives.”
The festival runs from 3 to 9 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic School grounds, 1152 Seminole in Rockledge.