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Hello Partners!
As many are winding down for summer, First 1,000 Days continues to build momentum. We’re thrilled to share with you what we’ve accomplished in only a few months’ time. Since May, we welcomed a new team member, made new partnerships, expanded our reach, added more ways to connect, conducted our Landscape & Impact Assessment Webinar, and have begun developing a strategic plan. All of this would not have been possible without your ongoing commitment to our shared mission. Let's continue to work hand-in-hand, meeting families where they are and delivering compassionate, results-oriented care that makes a difference.
Thank you,
First 1,000 Days Suncoast Team
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Growing Our Team: First 1000 Days Suncoast Welcomes Renee King
The small but mighty First 1,000 Days Team is growing! In June, Renee King came on board as an additional Family Navigator. Renee is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and previously worked in Women & Children's Services at the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System. At the hospital, Renee was the top utilizer of the Unite Us referral platform and both patients and staff appreciated her warm, compassionate nature and wonderful sense of humor. We are so excited to have Renee join us and know her skills and experience will greatly contribute to the exciting work ahead!
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This Month’s Success Story: Our Holistic Approach to Family Navigation
A mother reached out to First 1000 Days with one request: mental health counseling. Tina Wilson, First 1,000 Days’ Family Navigator, promptly responded to the request and in talking with the mother, learned the family was also in desperate need of other supports such as household items, baby clothing, food, child development support, transportation and employment. Tina made 13 referrals to community partners on behalf of the family. Within a 3–4-month span, Mom was connected with a counselor and received household items, clothing, food, and transportation support. She is now employed, and her child is receiving physical therapy and doing better with developmental milestones.
Mom was extremely thankful and quoted saying, "You know, everyone needs a Tina! She has been there for me on my darkest days and is helping me reach brighter ones! Thank you for always answering my calls or texts. You have no idea how much you have helped me." This Mom wanted to express her appreciation by giving back and has done so by participating in a First 1000 Days Parent Focus Group, promotional video shoot, and becoming a member of our Parent Advisory Committee.
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Expanding Our Navigation Program: Partnering with Links2Success
First 1000 Days Suncoast proudly partners with Links2Success to expand our Navigation Program. Links2Success is a well-established, non-profit organization whose mission is to provide resources, services, experiences, and guidance to DeSoto County youth in an effort to help them achieve educational success.
The organization typically serves older youth, but recognizing the importance and value of early intervention, CEO and Founder Ashley Coone wanted to expand services to families pregnant and/or with young children. Links to Success received a grant award from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation to hire a Family Navigator who will respond to all First 1,000 Days Assistance Requests received from families residing in DeSoto County.
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In Case You Missed It: Our Landscape & Impact Assessment Webinar – 2024 Watch HERE!
Over 200 dedicated professionals and parents came together to discuss the current landscape and impact of care available to families during a child's first 1,000 days, when critical development occurs. The opening session included initiative updates and highlighted results of the Landscape and Impact Matrix.
View the full Landscape and Impact Matrix.
We would like to thank the many partners who contributed to the Matrix by sharing their knowledge of resources and barriers affecting First 1,000 Days’ long-term indicators: Prenatal Care, Severe Maternal Morbidity, and Infant Mortality.
In the county-specific breakout sessions immediately following, discussions further illuminated community needs, resources, and partnership opportunities. A special note of thanks to those able to join the Webinar. Your engaged and energetic participation was productive and appreciated!
The Matrix has been updated to include feedback given during the webinar. While it is intended to be a living document, we aim to finalize this working version. Please take a final look to ensure your organization is included and accurately presented. All additions and suggestions are welcome and may be provided by emailing First1000Days@smh.com or calling Janice Houchins at 941-780-2348. Ongoing conversations with community partners will be held to continue building a collective understanding of our system of care and how we can work together on solutions.
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Convenient Connection for Families: OhMD Texting Pilot
The First 1,000 Days Care Coordination Committee regularly reviews Unite Us data and consistently found "unable to contact" as a top reason for unresolved cases in the platform. These findings were corroborated by feedback from local Navigators and parents, as well as national statistics showing texting as a valuable communication tool that may improve the efficiency and effectiveness of outreach efforts. To address this challenge, First 1,000 Days, with funding from the Barancik Foundation, will soon launch a texting service pilot to facilitate timely, reliable, and HIPAA-compliant communication through OhMD texting technology. Eight non-profits are participating in the 12-month pilot. We will measure improvements in client contact rates and case resolution metrics from Unite Us and collect feedback from staff and clients to gauge the effectiveness and usability of the text messaging services.
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Navigator Workgroup Impact: Building a Community of Support
Navigator Workgroups are held in DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota Counties. The meetings offer opportunities for navigators to network with and support peers, collaborate on complex cases, support professional development, identify areas of need and opportunities for collaboration, and enhance knowledge of community resources. To determine impact, we conducted a survey composed of participating navigators. The results: 89% deepened their knowledge of community resources, 72% created new interagency partnerships, 1 out of 3 reported a reduction in job-related burnout, and 3 out of 4 reported increased connectivity to peers.
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Education is Empowerment: Our Team Presents at “The Future Call”
First 1,000 Days Suncoast Manager, Dr. Chelsea Arnold, was featured in "The Future Call": Conversations on Florida’s Early Learning Future, an event held by The Children’s Movement of Florida. Dr. Arnold presented the Initiative’s 3 Key Components (Care Coordination, Family Empowerment, and Targeted Interventions) and how they align in supporting mental health and children's learning and thriving from birth. She also discussed concrete ways the First 1,000 Days navigation program is providing better information, resources, and support for families.
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CONNECT WITH US!
Our community partners are vital to our mission! First 1,000 Days Suncoast is committed to working collaboratively to create innovative approaches and solutions that make a difference in families' lives. We’re here for our fellow professionals as much as the families we serve!
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