Healthy Start Coalition Holds Community-Wide Baby Shower

Stuart, Fla. - Martin County Healthy Start Coalition knows how to throw a baby shower! With its mission to assure that every baby is born healthy, the coalition sponsored an informative baby shower at the 10th Street Recreation Center in Stuart on April 16 during Black Maternal Health Week.

Expectant mothers and families enjoyed activities for young and old alike and received information from community providers about the many organizations that an expectant mother can call on for help.

A cake made out of diapers, free memberships, baby item gift baskets and a post-partum survival kit were raffled off. Families also had an opportunity to receive free diapers from the Healthy Start Coalition Diaper Program.

“This statistic may be surprising, but we know that on average, women of color, even in Martin County, are three to five times more likely to have severe complications as a result of pregnancy than white women,” said Martin County Healthy Start Coalition Executive Director Samantha Suffich, “So we were especially pleased to bring our partner agencies to our East Stuart baby shower and connect them with the Black community. Every expectant mother deserves all of the services our community can offer to help them deliver a healthy baby.”

Participants at the Baby Shower included: Banner Lake Community Center, Bell House Birth Services, Children’s Services Council of Martin County, the Early Learning Coalition of Indian River, Martin and Okeechobee Counties, the Florida Department of Health, Just Believe Recovery, Light of the World Charities/Little Lights Dentistry, Madison’s Miracles, SafeSpace Inc., Mary’s Home of the Treasure Coast, Suncoast Mental Health, and YMCA of the Treasure Coast.

About Martin County Healthy Start

Martin County Healthy Start is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that every baby is born healthy. It provides educational and health services to pregnant women, new mothers and their families at no cost, particularly expectant mothers who are at risk for late or no prenatal care.

Part of a statewide coalition, Healthy Start connects pregnant women and young mothers with essential services including prenatal care, home visitations by a nurse or social worker, breastfeeding support, parenting education, car seat and sleeping safety, a free diaper pantry, and access to other community partner agencies through the Betty Moore Prenatal Outreach Center. The David Cardno Father and Child Resource Center, also part of the Martin County Healthy Start Coalition, helps fathers to become more involved in parenting and offers legal assistance to fathers who are separated from their children.

The programs of Martin County Healthy Start Coalition are voluntary and available to all Florida residents at no cost.

For more information about Martin County Healthy Start Coalition and its ongoing programs, visit www.mchealthystart.org, call 772-463-2888 or follow the organization on Facebook.

comprehensive range of no-cost educational and health services to pregnant women and their families , particularly those who are at risk for late or no prenatal care.