Whats your role? Coalition member Winnie Holland

Winnie, second from the left, with the 4Me Teen Health Project Teen LeadersWinnie Holland is a member of the Healthy Start Coalition Board of Directors. She is currently the Health Officer for the Florida Department of Health — Clay County Health Department. She shares her role in preventing infant mortality:

Clay County Health Officer Winnie Holland is relatively new to the Northeast Florida region, but not to Healthy Start and the issues women and babies face.

“The Healthy Start Program is an important aspect of the public health focus of improving and enhancing health outcomes.  I was involved with Healthy Start at my position in Hendry/Glades Counties when I worked on an outreach grant to ensure that pregnant women and infants received appropriate medical care.  My involvement with the Healthy Start Coalition in North Central Florida continued when I became the health officer for Bradford/Union.  The program makes a difference in the lives of women and children and is important at engaging our community partners in the health of vulnerable women and children.  I appreciate both the work of the coalition and especially the work that the case managers and other support staff to help women and children get a “healthy start”.”

NIMAM_LOGO_FINALAs Health Officer, Winnie oversees many programs, including Healthy Start, within the health department. She was also instrumental in bringing the 4Me Teen Health Project to Clay County youth in the Fall of 2013.

“I am from a very large family and love Moms and babies.  I think in today’s society it is even more important that communities support the new Moms to ensure they have the systems in place to ensure they are successful being “Moms”.”