Page 6 - Martin Downs Bulletin - October '23

Page 6, Martin Downs

Good Works

Healthy Start’s Maternal that moms are cared for as individuals and each woman is

Health Conference Welcomes heard regardless of race, ethnicity, language or income.”
The Maternal Safety Team includes: Cleveland Clinic
National Health Advocate Martin, the Children’s Services Council of Martin County, the
Martin County Health Department, and the Martin County
Jennie Joseph Healthy Start Coalition.
Community members interested in the Maternal Safety
Jennie Joseph, certified midwife and founder of Common Team can keep up with its work by subscribing to the Healthy
Sense Childbirth Inc., is celebrated for her advocacy and Start newsletter at www.mchealthystart.org.
common sense on issues affecting healthy pregnancies, About Martin County Healthy Start
healthy deliveries and healthy babies. In 2022, she earned Martin County Healthy Start is a nonprofit organization
a spot as one of Time Magazine’s top 12 women of the year dedicated to ensuring that every baby is born healthy. It
for her work around the world. provides educational and health services to pregnant
Joseph addressed the Healthy Start Maternal Safety women, new mothers and their families at no cost,
Team members and community advocates as the guest particularly expectant mothers who are at risk for late
of the Martin County Healthy Start Coalition on Sept. or no prenatal care.
8 at the Children’s Services Council of Martin County. Part of a statewide coalition, Healthy Start connects
She brought her vision for a systemic reform of maternal pregnant women and young mothers with essential services
health services that puts women and babies first – before including prenatal care, home visitations by a nurse or
profit, convenience or any of the reasons America trails social worker, breastfeeding support, parenting education,
other developed nations in healthy births. car seat and sleeping safety, a free diaper pantry, and
The Maternal Safety Team grew out of concern over access to other community partner agencies through the
alarming maternal health statistics. Dr. Jeffrey Chapa, Martin County Healthy Start CEO Samantha Suffich, Betty Moore Prenatal Outreach Center. The David Cardno
Division Chair for OB/GYN at Cleveland Clinic Florida, Maternal Health Advocate and CEO of Common Sense Father and Child Resource Center, also part of the Martin
noted that the United States spends more money than anyone Childbirth Jennie Joseph, and Healthy Start’s Manager of County Healthy Start Coalition, helps fathers to become more
else in the world on maternal health care and yet has the PeriNatal Equity Anastasia Anderson, welcomed community involved in parenting and offers legal assistance to fathers
highest mortality rates of developed countries. Half of Black members to a discussion of ways that collaboration can save who are separated from their children.
mothers, for example, experience morbidity – near death lives of expectant mothers and their babies, particularly those The programs of Martin County Healthy Start
experiences – in giving birth. at risk because of their race or ethnicity. Coalition are voluntary and available to all Florida
“Money is being spent but not equally,” Chapa said. “We residents at no cost.
need to come together to look out for the best interests of our community partners working with us to make sure that every For more information about Martin County Healthy
patients and the community.” baby is born healthy, every mother is supported, and every Start Coalition and its ongoing programs, visit www.
“Collaborative care saves lives” is one of Joseph’s main father is involved. The team members have taken Jennie mchealthystart.org, call (772) 463-2888 or follow the
messages. “We need to eliminate racial disparities,” she Joseph’s work to heart and made it our own to make sure organization on Facebook.
said, “but that doesn’t happen from blaming providers
or caregivers and certainly not the expectant mothers
themselves. The problems grow out of our acceptance of the real estate
system, even if it’s not working for the patient. We can only
change that by coming together to change the system.”
Under the leadership of the Martin County Healthy Start
Coalition and through funding from the Children’s Services Treasure Coast Real Estate 3-D walk-through tour. Your home will also have to appear
Council of Martin County, that is exactly what the Maternal on sites like Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, and dozens of
Safety Team is doing. “This came out of a lot of scary stories Report other sites where buyers search for homes.
that we don’t want to ever happen again,” Healthy Start CEO Also, if you are going to sell, contact me or a Realtor
Samantha Suffich said. “We have strong and committed Selling Or Buying? Do It Now directly. Do not use a three-party site. These sites send
your contact information to a local Realtor and that
By Jim Weix Realtor has to pay up to 35 percent of their commission
In the past, sellers to that site. That means that your opportunity to negotiate
often waited until after the commission just went out the window.
December to put their This also applies to buyers who were hoping their
property on the market. Realtor could maybe help out with some of the costs of
That was because they buying a home. Contact a local Realtor directly and tell
were waiting for the them what you are looking for.
snowbirds to return. If you are buying, you already know that although prices
Those days are long gone have stabilized, the inventory of homes for sale is low. It is
thanks to the Internet. not going to be as easy to find the “perfect” home. So if you
Today almost every find something that meets your needs, you should act on it.
buyer is searching for Feel free to call me if you would like to discuss
homes on the Internet. They don’t need to be in Florida to your options. I can be reached at (772) 341-2941 or
look at homes. If they see something that really interests jimweix@jimweix.com.
them, they will hop on a plane, or have a friend or relative Jim Weix is a broker associate with The Keyes
in Florida physically tour the home. Company. Jim has 25 years of experience selling real
As a seller, you will need to be sure that your home is estate full-time. If you have questions or want the services
presented properly on the Internet. At the minimum, you of an experienced expert, you can reach Jim at (772) 341-
will need professional photography, a video tour, and a 2941 or jimweix@jimweix.com.