Happy April, Healthy Starters!

Spring is officially here—even if it’s already starting to feel a bit like summer!

We’re so excited for our 3rd Annual Community Baby Shower happening *this weekend*! Get ready for music, fun, raffle prizes, and a few special surprises we can’t wait to share.

This month, we’re also proud to celebrate two of our fantastic home visitors who recently completed car seat safety training—another step in keeping our families safe while on the go.

April is a meaningful month for reflection and awareness. We’re recognizing both Minority Health Month and Black Maternal Health Week, and we invite you to keep reading to learn more about these important observances.

You’ll also find updates on our diaper pantry schedule and details about our new location below.

Thank you for being such a vital part of our community!

Warmly,

Samantha & the Healthy Start Team

It’s Sprinkle Time! Join us Saturday

We’re counting down—less than 5 days to go until our 3rd Annual Community Baby Sprinkle!

We’re incredibly grateful to all the amazing community partners who will be joining us for this fun, family event! Whether you're expecting a new baby, have a newborn, or just have small kids and would like to join in on a fun Saturday morning event, you are welcome!

Title Sponsor: Sunshine Health

Also joining:

Easterseals Florida

Helping People Succeed

The David Cardno Fatherhood Initiative

Treasure Coast Food Bank

That Fairy Britt

City of Stuart Recreation

Count the Kicks

The Children's Museum of the Treasure Coast (who will be doing a music activity!)

Florida Blue

Get excited—we’ll also be raffling off tons of awesome items, including a brand new Graco car seat!

No need to register! We'll see you there!

Home Vistation Team Successfully Completes Car Seat Safety Certification

Did you know? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 60% of car seats are improperly installed, putting children at a higher risk of injury in the event of an accident. Certified technicians play a crucial role in ensuring car seats are installed correctly to keep children safe on the road.

In a significant step toward enhancing child safety within the community, Martin County Healthy Start recently sent two of its dedicated home visitors to Broward County to participate in specialized car seat safety training. The program, conducted by Safe Kids, focused on equipping attendees with the skills and knowledge necessary to ensure proper car seat installation.

After completing the intensive training, both technicians have officially earned certification as car seat safety technicians. With this achievement, they are now qualified to both install car seats and verify that existing car seat installations meet safety standards.

April is National Minority Health Month

National Minority Health Month is observed every April to raise awareness about the health disparities that affect racial and ethnic minority populations in the U.S. and to promote health equity across communities. It’s a time to highlight the importance of reducing barriers to care, improving access to health services, and empowering individuals with culturally appropriate health education.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Office of Minority Health (OMH), leads this initiative by spotlighting programs and partnerships that support healthier outcomes for minority groups.

This year’s theme (2025):

"Be the Source for Better Health: Improving Health Outcomes Through Our Cultures, Communities, and Connections."

The theme emphasizes the power of community-driven efforts and trusted relationships in advancing health equity.

Black Maternal Health Week

April 11th marks the start of Black Maternal Health Week — a time to raise awareness, amplify voices, and take action.

Black women and other women of color continue to face disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality (death) and morbidity (illness or injury). In 2023, the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black women was 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births — nearly 3.5 times higher than that of non-Hispanic White women (CDC, 2025). In fact, Black women in the U.S. are 3x more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women. What’s even more alarming: over 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable (CDC, 2024).

This week is dedicated to shedding light on the challenges women of color face during pregnancy and childbirth — and to reaffirm our commitment, as a Coalition, to improving maternal and birth outcomes for all.

Let’s listen. Let’s learn. Let’s act.