Archive for 2023

Ruth Vryhof of Kids Central Inc. has been awarded the Laura Pan Scholarship Award for her hard work and dedication in the field of maternal and child health.

The Laura Pan Scholarship Award is given to one outstanding Healthy Start worker each year who provides direct services to families and who:

Goes above and beyond to create a positive impact on improving the health of mothers and babies.
• Demonstrates passion and dedication to our clients.
• Exemplifies the vision and values of Healthy Start.

The award is […]

‘This Is So Critical for Dads.’: Program Helps Fathers Navigate the Parenting Journey

August 31, 2023

By Voleer Thomas for the Gainesville Guardian | USA TODAY NETWORK

Fathers have the opportunity to receive guidance for free to help them on their fatherhood journey. T.E.A.M. Dad was launched to help fathers increase their awareness and knowledge about what it takes to be a good father. T.E.A.M. Dad stands for Teaching, Empowering, Advocating for and Mentoring. The program currently operates in 16 counties: Alachua, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Sumter, Suwannee and Union.

Its goal is to help men […]

Concerned About Healthcare Issues in Citrus County?

August 23, 2023

Citrus County Chronicle

You can be instrumental in solving some big issues that have plagued Citrus County for years. Don’t believe it? Review the just-released Community Health Needs Assessment’s strategic priority issues, then join the Community Health Improvement Partnership committee working on the topic most important to you. This assessment is not just about “health” in the clinical sense.

The Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) has been conducted over a number of years, so there’s history. As before, the CHNA was done by WellFlorida Council, the north […]

T.E.A.M. Dad Available in North Central Florida

August 22, 2023

Main Street Daily News
By Glory Reitz

T.E.A.M. Dad, a branch of HealthyStart, recently extended its coverage to 16 counties in North Central Florida. The free home visiting program currently has three coaches, each working with about eight men.

Coaches work with fathers and father figures to improve their fatherhood knowledge and skills, and to increase their confidence in the role they fill in a child’s life. T.E.A.M. Dad Coordinator Joseph Neal said many fathers want to be involved in their children’s lives but do not know […]

Florida Healthy Start Announces Expansion of Nurse-Family Partnership Funding

August 9, 2023

Florida Healthy Start administers the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) in 12 Florida counties as a result of a funding increase.

This year, The Florida Legislature approved funding to support the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) program in nine additional counties. This increase expands the funding from three to twelve counties. The Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions (FAHSC) administers the NFP program through a contract with the Florida Department of Health (DOH) with direct services available at Healthy Start Coalitions in each of the 12 counties where the […]

T.E.A.M. Dad Boosts Confidence and Skills in Fathering

August 7, 2023

A new and free program in North Central Florida helps fathers increase their awareness and knowledge about what it takes to be a good father. T.E.A.M. Dad, which stands for Teaching, Empowering, Advocating for and Mentoring men on their fatherhood journey is inviting fathers, grandfathers or role models involved with a child under the age of three or men with a pregnant partner to enroll.

The program provides a dedicated T.E.A.M. Dad support specialist, who is an experienced father and/or who has received extensive training in […]

2023 County Health Profiles Now Available

May 30, 2023

WellFlorida’s annual publication North Central Florida County Health Profiles provides the health status of the 16 counties we serve as the region’s local health planning council — Alachua, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Marion, Putnam, Sumter, Suwannee and Union. The County Health Profiles offer a snapshot of each county’s health data, and how the counties compare to each other, the region and the state. Learn more.

Upcoming First Responder Events

May 2, 2023

Join WellFlorida Council, Lutheran Services Florida and the First Responder Project for the following upcoming events:
Building a Successful Behavioral Health Access Program for First Responder Readiness Townhall

You are invited to a townhall that summarizes our shared efforts to broaden behavioral health and wellness supports for first responders, and battle stigma and other barriers to care. Learn about new resources and share your expertise as we review LSF’s strategic plan for building a successful behavioral health access program (BHAP) for first responders in Northeast and North Central […]

Help Our Community’s Babies Have More First Birthdays

March 15, 2023