Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County
  • ABOUT
    • Mission & History
    • Our Team
    • Volunteer Executive Board
    • Annual Reports
    • Client Success Stories
    • FAQ
    • Contact
  • PROGRAMS
    • Healthy Start
    • Connect
    • Save My Life
    • MomCare
    • Fetal & Infant Mortality Review
  • COMMUNITY ACTION
    • Addiction Support and Pregnancy (ASAP)
    • Breastfeeding Advocates of Sarasota County
    • Breastfeeding Friendly Sarasota Project
    • Breastfeeding Peer Counselors
    • Clean Start
    • IMPLICIT: Interconception Care Model for Vulnerable Populations in Sarasota County
    • Pump Up Sarasota
    • Safe Sleep Sarasota Initiative
    • Substance Exposed Newborn Prevention & Protection
  • FOR MOMS
    • Can Healthy Start Help You?
    • Breastfeeding Support & Resources
    • Clean Start – Protecting Your Baby from Drugs and Alcohol
    • Family Planning
    • Getting Healthy Before You Get Pregnant
    • Help to Quit Smoking
    • Hurricane & Disaster Preparedness
    • Safe Sleep for Your Baby
    • Text4Baby
    • Think 39 Weeks!
    • Zika and Pregnancy
  • FOR PROVIDERS
    • Prenatal Risk Screen
    • Infant Risk Screen
    • Provider Education & Resources
    • Your Community Liaison
  • EVENTS
    • An Evening for Healthy Start 2023
      13th Annual Fundraiser
    • Past Events
      • 2022 Breakfast of Champions
      • Run Baby Run! 5k
      • An Evening for Healthy Start 2022
      • Fourth Annual Regional Summit 2022
      • Free Virtual Webinar: Multiple Layers of COVID-19 From Birth to Grief
      • 2021 Parenting Series
        • 2021 Parenting Series – The Sleepy Tot
        • 2021 Parenting Series – COVID 19 Vaccination
        • 2021 Parenting Series – HypnoBirthing
        • 2021 Parenting Series – Resilient Retreat
        • 2021 Parenting Series – Potty Training
        • 2021 Parenting Series – Sound Beginnings
        • 2021 Parenting Series – Childhood Stress
      • 2020 Regional Summit Lunch and Learn Series
      • An Evening for Healthy Start 2020
      • “Giving Sarasota a Healthy Start” Luncheon 2020
      • North Port Community Baby Shower & Preschool Expo
      • Sarasota Community Baby Shower
      • SECOND REGIONAL SUMMIT: Substance Use Disorder in the Pregnant Patient and Substance Exposed Neonate
      • (Virtual) Breakfast of Champions 2020
  • DONATE
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Wishlist
    • Amazon Smile
    • Goodshop
  • ABOUT
    • Mission & History
    • Our Team
    • Volunteer Executive Board
    • Annual Reports
    • Client Success Stories
    • FAQ
    • Contact
  • PROGRAMS
    • Healthy Start
    • Connect
    • Save My Life
    • MomCare
    • Fetal & Infant Mortality Review
  • COMMUNITY ACTION
    • Addiction Support and Pregnancy (ASAP)
    • Breastfeeding Advocates of Sarasota County
    • Breastfeeding Friendly Sarasota Project
    • Breastfeeding Peer Counselors
    • Clean Start
    • IMPLICIT: Interconception Care Model for Vulnerable Populations in Sarasota County
    • Pump Up Sarasota
    • Safe Sleep Sarasota Initiative
    • Substance Exposed Newborn Prevention & Protection
  • FOR MOMS
    • Can Healthy Start Help You?
    • Breastfeeding Support & Resources
    • Clean Start – Protecting Your Baby from Drugs and Alcohol
    • Family Planning
    • Getting Healthy Before You Get Pregnant
    • Help to Quit Smoking
    • Hurricane & Disaster Preparedness
    • Safe Sleep for Your Baby
    • Text4Baby
    • Think 39 Weeks!
    • Zika and Pregnancy
  • FOR PROVIDERS
    • Prenatal Risk Screen
    • Infant Risk Screen
    • Provider Education & Resources
    • Your Community Liaison
  • EVENTS
    • An Evening for Healthy Start 2023
      13th Annual Fundraiser
    • Past Events
      • 2022 Breakfast of Champions
      • Run Baby Run! 5k
      • An Evening for Healthy Start 2022
      • Fourth Annual Regional Summit 2022
      • Free Virtual Webinar: Multiple Layers of COVID-19 From Birth to Grief
      • 2021 Parenting Series
        • 2021 Parenting Series – The Sleepy Tot
        • 2021 Parenting Series – COVID 19 Vaccination
        • 2021 Parenting Series – HypnoBirthing
        • 2021 Parenting Series – Resilient Retreat
        • 2021 Parenting Series – Potty Training
        • 2021 Parenting Series – Sound Beginnings
        • 2021 Parenting Series – Childhood Stress
      • 2020 Regional Summit Lunch and Learn Series
      • An Evening for Healthy Start 2020
      • “Giving Sarasota a Healthy Start” Luncheon 2020
      • North Port Community Baby Shower & Preschool Expo
      • Sarasota Community Baby Shower
      • SECOND REGIONAL SUMMIT: Substance Use Disorder in the Pregnant Patient and Substance Exposed Neonate
      • (Virtual) Breakfast of Champions 2020
  • DONATE
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Wishlist
    • Amazon Smile
    • Goodshop

Vital Save My Life Program Fully Funded Thanks to Community Donations and Grant from Bank of America Client Foundation

At-risk families in North Sarasota will continue to receive free, professional support and education thanks to donations from the “An Evening for Healthy Start” Fundraiser and $40,000 Bank of America Client Foundation Grant.

The Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County’s recent “An Evening for Healthy Start” fundraiser was a huge success with over $37,000 raised.

These funds will go to support Healthy Start direct services with a portion used to cover the remaining funding gap in a vital community program, Save My Life.

“The generous support from our community has allowed us to fully fund the Save My Life Program until a renewal grant can be requested again in August,” explains Healthy Start Executive Director, Shon Ewens.

In August 2018 the Save My Life Program was awarded a $40,000 grant from the Bank of America Client Foundation, Virginia White Clark Fund, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee. While this generous grant has enabled the program to continue, there were still gaps remaining that were a concern.

Save My Life Program Was Created to Fill a Need

Created in 2006 in response to the alarming racial disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes, the Save My Life Program was designed to address the significantly higher rates of poor birth and health outcomes, such as low birth weight, prematurity, and fetal and infant death experienced by African-Americans.

The Save My Life Program offers culturally relevant education provided in group settings or home visits about a variety of health and pregnancy-related topics. The Program provides the tools and information women need to have healthy pregnancies, birth healthy babies, and become healthier themselves.

Save My Life Provides Valuable Tools to Empower Women

Classes are offered free-of-charge at various locations throughout the Newtown and North Sarasota areas and cover topics such as childbirth education, breastfeeding, nutrition, safe sleep, preconception and interconception health, smoking cessation, and more. Save My Life also offers free one-on-one breastfeeding support after the birth of the baby, increasing the likelihood that nursing will continue allowing babies to get the right balance of nutrients, immune protection, and bonding to help them get a healthy start.

A Collaborative Effort

Through the Safe Sleep Sarasota Initiative, supported by grants from the Florida Winefest Foundation and the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County’s Healthy Babies Initiative, program participants receive a free “Safe Sleep Survival Kit”, including a bassinet or pack n’ play, upon completing the program.

“The Save My Life Program relies entirely on funding from donations and grants like the Bank of American Client Foundation to ensure that these important services are available to the families that need them,” adds Shon Ewens. “Without community support, grants, and donations the program wouldn’t exist.”

The Save My Life Program reaches about a hundred pregnant women, new mothers, and women of childbearing age each year. For more information about the program visit www.healthystartsarasota.org/save-my-life.

Latest Posts

  • shutterstock_2002113860_xpuwtv
    How Is the National Formula Shortage Affecting Sarasota Babies? Friday, 12, Aug
  • Hurricane
    Hurricane Season-What You Should Know If You Are Pregnant Thursday, 15, Jul
  • HealthyStart Parenting Series-04
    Free Parenting Series Thursday, 7, Jan
  • Giving Challenge Graphics-Unidos
    Unidos for a Healthy Future Wednesday, 22, Apr
  • Hurricane
    Hurricane Preparedness: Pregnant Women and Families Friday, 30, Aug

Archives

  • August 2022
  • July 2021
  • January 2021
  • November 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • July 2017
  • May 2017
  • March 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • May 2015
  • December 2014
  • July 2014
  • January 2014
  • June 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009

About

“Our Mission is to Improve the Health and Well-being of Pregnant Women, Infants, and Young Children in Sarasota County.”

WHO WE ARE

  • OUR TEAM
  • VOLUNTEER EXECUTIVE BOARD
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT
  • CALENDAR OF EVENTS

WHAT WE DO

  • OUR MISSION
  • OUR PROGRAMS
  • EVENTS
  • FAQ
  • PRESS RELEASES

OUR MISSION

“Our Mission is to Improve the Health and Well-being of Pregnant Women, Infants, and Young Children in Sarasota County.”

FIND US ELSEWHERE:

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube

© 2017 The Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County, Inc. Designed by Ciera Coleman. Photography by Peter Acker.