Page 10 - Palm City Spotlight - October '23

Page 10, Palm City Spotlight

good works

Healthy Start’s Maternal The Maternal Safety Team includes: Cleveland Clinic

Health Conference Welcomes Martin, the Children’s Services Council of Martin County,
the Martin County Health Department, and the Martin
National Health Advocate County Healthy Start Coalition.
Community members interested in the Maternal Safety
Jennie Joseph Team can keep up with its work by subscribing to the Healthy
Start newsletter at www.mchealthystart.org.
Jennie Joseph, certified midwife and founder of Common About Martin County Healthy Start
Sense Childbirth Inc., is celebrated for her advocacy and Martin County Healthy Start is a nonprofit organization
common sense on issues affecting healthy pregnancies, dedicated to ensuring that every baby is born healthy. It
healthy deliveries and healthy babies. In 2022, she earned provides educational and health services to pregnant women,
a spot as one of Time Magazine’s top 12 women of the year new mothers and their families at no cost, particularly
for her work around the world. expectant mothers who are at risk for late or no prenatal care.
Joseph addressed the Healthy Start Maternal Safety Team Part of a statewide coalition, Healthy Start connects
members and community advocates as the guest of the Martin pregnant women and young mothers with essential services
County Healthy Start Coalition on Sept. 8 at the Children’s including prenatal care, home visitations by a nurse or social
Services Council of Martin County. She brought her vision worker, breastfeeding support, parenting education, car seat
for a systemic reform of maternal health services that puts and sleeping safety, a free diaper pantry, and access to other
women and babies first – before profit, convenience or any of community partner agencies through the Betty Moore Prenatal
the reasons America trails other developed nations in healthy Outreach Center. The David Cardno Father and Child Resource
births. Center, also part of the Martin County Healthy Start Coalition,
The Maternal Safety Team grew out of concern over helps fathers to become more involved in parenting and offers
alarming maternal health statistics. Dr. Jeffrey Chapa, Martin County Healthy Start CEO Samantha Suffich, legal assistance to fathers who are separated from their children.
Division Chair for OB/GYN at Cleveland Clinic Florida, Maternal Health Advocate and CEO of Common Sense The programs of Martin County Healthy Start Coalition
noted that the United States spends more money than anyone Childbirth Jennie Joseph, and Healthy Start’s Manager of are voluntary and available to all Florida residents at no cost.
else in the world on maternal health care and yet has the PeriNatal Equity Anastasia Anderson, welcomed community For more information about Martin County Healthy
highest mortality rates of developed countries. Half of Black members to a discussion of ways that collaboration can save Start Coalition and its ongoing programs, visit www.
mothers, for example, experience morbidity – near death lives of expectant mothers and their babies, particularly those mchealthystart.org, call (772) 463-2888 or follow the
experiences – in giving birth. at risk because of their race or ethnicity. organization on Facebook.
“Money is being spent but not equally,” Chapa said. “We
need to come together to look out for the best interests of our
patients and the community.”
“Collaborative care saves lives” is one of Joseph’s main
messages. “We need to eliminate racial disparities,” she
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
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
Council of Martin County, that is exactly what the Maternal
Safety Team is doing. “This came out of a lot of scary stories
that we don’t want to ever happen again,” Healthy Start CEO
Samantha Suffich said. “We have strong and committed
community partners working with us to make sure that every
baby is born healthy, every mother is supported, and every
father is involved. The team members have taken Jennie
Joseph’s work to heart and made it our own to make sure
that moms are cared for as individuals and each woman is
heard regardless of race, ethnicity, language or income.”

Happy

Halloween! November 14 - 18 th
th
16th Annual
The Flagler of Stuart
201 SW Flagler Ave, Stuart

Featured Special Events

Tuesday, November 14 through
Benefiting: Saturday, November 18
Answer for Trees, Wreaths & Holiday Decor for Viewing

Crossword Puzzle Join Us As We Raise Tues-Wed 11am-5pm | Thur-Fri 11am-8pm | Sat 8:30am-3pm
Free to the public
Funds to Prioritize Wednesday, November 15
Joy to the Girls
Children’s Mental Health! 5:30-7:30pm | $75 per ticket | $750 table of 8
Friday, November 17
A Not So Silent Night
SCAN THE CODE “Black Tie & Blue Jeans”
FOR MORE INFO OR TO Held at Rockin’ H Ranch
PURCHASE TICKETS 6:30-10:30pm | $200 per ticket | $2,500 table of 10
Saturday, November 18
Breakfast & Photos with Santa
tykesandteens.org 8:30-10:30am | Free - Must pre-register
772.220.3439 Family Day
Open to the public | 8:30am-3pm

Tykes & Teens is a registered 501c3 not-for-profit agency providing mental facebook.com/tykesteens
health services to children and their families regardless of ability to pay. instagram.com/tykesteens/