More than 70 staff members from Healthy Start programs at eight different agencies in the region came together Monday, March 23 for a day of training, team-building activities, mindfulness exercise and fun. The training was arranged by Coalition staff to allow all eight agencies to come together in one place. The workshop covered care coordination-specific topics like documenting risk factors, risk-appropriate care, a data review and enhanced services available. But it also brought together staff to share best practices and enjoy themselves — several staff put on a Healthy Start skit for the audience. Dr. Barbara Bishop, President Executive Director of Soul Focus Resources, led an afternoon activity on mindfulness-based stress reduction that was open to the event participants and 15 Healthy Start Coalition staff. There are eight Healthy Start providers across five counties in Northeast Florida, providing prenatal and infant services in the community:
- Florida Department of Health — Baker County
- Florida Department of Health — Clay County
- Florida Department of Health — Duval County
- Florida Department of Health — Nassau County
- Florida Department of Health — St. Johns County
- UF Health/Shands Jacksonville
- Children’s Home Society
- Gateway Community Services/the Azalea Project