Blooming News: Spring Into Action with Healthy Start 🌷

Julia Sharp 03 April 2026

🌷 Blooming News: Spring Into Action with Healthy Start 🌷

View this email in your browser

Shaping the Future of
Maternal and Child Health

Every five years, state statute requires Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas to complete a Community Needs Assessment, and we have done just that. Now it is time for the next step: gathering our community to shape the Service Delivery Plan that will guide maternal and child health services for years to come.

We are bringing together community partners, healthcare providers, and stakeholders who are invested in the future of maternal and child health in Pinellas County. Your insights and expertise are essential as we develop our community’s strategic plan for supporting expectant and new families. Here is what you can expect:

Data Snapshot: Executive Director Mary Jo Plews, L.C.S.W., will present current Maternal and Child Health indicators and trends in Pinellas County.

Interactive Discussion: Work alongside peers in small breakout groups to collectively identify service gaps, prioritize community needs, and develop actionable strategies together.

Real Impact: Your collective input will shape the community’s strategic priorities for expectant and new families over the next five years, partnering to give every baby a Healthy Start.

This interactive session is facilitated with technical support from Collaborative Labs at St. Petersburg College for seamless virtual collaboration and real-time documentation. Two guiding questions will anchor our conversations:

How can we better educate providers and our community about the greatest needs facing moms and babies in Pinellas County?
How can we amplify and support mothers and families to advocate for what they need?

Space is limited and registration is now open. Secure your seat today!

Community Spirit

We are looking for volunteers to join our team at the St. Anthony’s Triathlon! As part of the Healthy Start Check-In Crew, you will be staffing the Athlete Check-In, welcoming competitors as they arrive and helping the event run smoothly behind the scenes. No running required! Volunteers will guide athletes through the race check-in process, distribute race shirts, bags, and timing chips, and support Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas. This is a wonderful opportunity to get out in the community, meet incredible people, and represent our mission of healthy moms, dads, and babies at one of the most beloved events in the Tampa Bay area. Sign up now and join the crew!

Save the Date

We are thrilled to announce that registration for our Annual Meeting on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at Ruth Eckerd Hall is officially open! Join us for a morning of celebration, inspiration, and community as we honor the incredible work being done across Pinellas County to support healthy pregnancies, babies, and families.

Doors open at 8 am, with the program beginning at 8:30 am.

Here is what you can look forward to:

Keynote Speaker LaVonna Roth of Ignite Your S.H.I.N.E. Leadership will bring a powerful and personal message about what quietly pulls us out of balance and how to make more intentional choices that bring steadiness, confidence, and connection to the families and communities we serve. This is the kind of talk that stays with you.

Healthy Start Hero Award honoring an individual making an extraordinary difference in the lives of children and families right here in Pinellas County.

Family Spotlight sharing firsthand how Healthy Start services transform lives and why this work matters.

Opportunity Drawing featuring gift cards and staycation getaways, with all proceeds benefiting our programs for expectant and new families.

We cannot wait to celebrate with you. As you register, please consider making a contribution to support our mission of healthy moms, dads, and babies. Every gift makes a difference for the families we serve in Pinellas County.

Did someone forward this email?

Would you like to join our mailing list and receive all the Coalition’s newsletters in your email box? Click the button below to be added to the distribution list. Remember to add Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas to your safe email list.

Join our mailing list!

Funding for Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas, Inc. is provided by:
Healthy Start Momcare Network, Inc.
State of Florida, Agency for Health Care Administration
State of Florida, Department of Health