A.B.C. All Bottoms Covered is a new initiative of the Alachua County Perinatal Mental Heath Coalition (ACPMHC) to address the correlation between diaper need (affecting 1 in 3 families) and heightened risk of these same families (3 times over!) for experiencing Postpartum Depression and related mental health conditions. Diaper need can lead to serious health problems for both babies and parents.
The ABC Diaper Bank will reach families through community partnerships with organizations already providing direct services to those with unmet diaper need. Diapers, while a basic necessity for health of babies, is not augmented for by any public service. The ABC Diaper Bank of ACPMHC will serve this ongoing need through donations of diapers and funds raised. Awareness materials with information on the mental health of parents and support and other resources within the community will accompany each package of diapers.
Did you know that 1 in 3 families struggle to provide clean diapers their child needs to remain healthy and happy?
If you are willing and able to make a donation to this amazing cause, please click on the following link:
Please Join Our March for Babies Team
Healthy Start of North Central Florida has created a team and will be walking in this year's March for Babies event on Saturday, April 14th at 8:50 AM. The walk will start at Celebration Pointe located at 3528 SW 45th Street in Gainesville, Florida. We'd love to have you join us! To be apart of our team, please visit
www.marchforbabies.org/EventInfo/?EventID=19196 and type in Healthy Start Coalition 2018 to create an account. The deadline to register is Friday, April 6th. Please remember that every dollar raised will be a lifeline for moms and babies near us and across the country.
March of Dimes Community Grant
We are happy to announce that Healthy Start of North Central Florida was awarded the March of Dimes Community Grant for the UF Health CenteringPregnancy and CenteringParenting projects for Alachua County. Our new grant will run from April 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019. We look forward to working with the March of Dimes again this year on our prematurity prevention efforts at the community level.
Help Me Grow Florida Grant
Healthy Start of North Central Florida recently submitted a response to an RFP for the Help Me Grow Florida (HMGF) grant for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. HMGF is a comprehensive and integrated statewide system designed to identify developmental and/or behavioral concerns in children ages birth through eight (8) years of age, and link their families to community-based services and supports. The HMGF system model promotes collaboration to build efficient and effective early childhood continuums of care. If awarded the grant, services would begin on July 1, 2018.
University of Florida Campaign for Charities
We are pleased to announce that Healthy Start of North Central Florida has been selected to participate in the University of Florida Campaign for Charities fundraising efforts again for the 2018 calendar year! Thank you to the University of Florida for allowing us to partner with you and give UF employees the opportunity to contribute to our organization through automatic payroll deduction.
NewboRN Home Visiting Program Kick-Off Event
The kick-off event for the brand new NewboRN Home Visiting Program was held on Saturday, March 17th at the School Board of Alachua County to let the community know more about this wonderful program and how they will benefit. The program begins this month and will be offering free home visits by a registered nurse to anyone who gives birth at UF Health Shands, North Florida Regional Medical Center, a local birth center or at their own home. Recipients of the home visits must be Alachua County residents as well as give birth in Alachua County.
Campaign for Children's Trust of Alachua County Kick-Off Event
On Sunday, March 4, 2018, the Campaign for Children's Trust (CTAC) held their first ever kick-off event at Depot Park in Gainesville, Florida. The CTAC will be on the November 6, 2018 ballot and if approved would be funded by county property taxes. CTAC is known for providing leadership and advocacy support to our children so they become productive adults; invests in our children's cognitive, social and emotional development; and expands our community's effort beyond prenatal - 5 years of age to serve ages 0-18. They will provide services such as:
- Afterschool and mentoring programs
- School readiness programs for quality pre-K education
- Parenting support and home safety programs
- Programs to create safe communities, youth employment and teen outreach
Please help us in supporting the Campaign for Children's Trust of Alachua County by voting, "YES," on the November 6th ballot. 
2018 Alachua County World's Greatest Baby Shower
The 2018 World's Greatest Baby Shower for Alachua County was held on Saturday, February 24th from 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM at Westwood Middle School located at 3215 NW 15th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida. The event featured 30-minute educational sessions, 20+ exhibitors, prize giveaways such as car seats, pack-n-plays, gift cards and other baby related items. The baby shower was hosted by Kiwanis International, in partnership with Stork's Nest, Alachua County Public Schools, Sun State Federal Credit Union, Florida SIDS Alliance and Healthy Start of North Central Florida.
