In this summer edition we encourage partners to sign up for our next full partner meeting, share our parent focus group and Plant, Grow, Bloom campaign progress, provide information about a new partner, welcome a new steering committee member, and share some calls-to-action.

RSVP for our Virtual Full Partner Meeting!

**August 4th via Zoom from 2-3 pm.**

First 1,000 Days will provide a brief history of the initiative, share community impacts directly from partner agencies, and provide insight from parent voices. Our goal is to use feedback from this meeting to begin building our strategic plan for the circuit.
All parents and professionals are welcome to attend!

Register Here

Parent Focus Groups

First 1,000 Days strives to empower parents as leaders and allow their voices to be heard. First 1,000 Days is learning about parents’ goals and dreams for themselves and their children, as well as barriers that get in the way. The feedback we’ve gathered has been highly informative and we appreciate all of the parents who have shared their lived experiences.

The First 1000 Days team has had the pleasure of holding Parent Focus Groups throughout the region at partner organizations. Thank you to the following agencies for coordinating and providing the necessary space to have these important conversations:
Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center, Pregnancy Solutions (Port Charlotte & North Port), Manatee Memorial Hospital MoMMs Place, Mothers Helping Mothers, Unidos Now, Arcadia Housing Authority, Kids Thrive, and All Faiths Food Bank.

Throughout the process, we have connected with families and sent over 50 referrals through the Unite Us platform for various resources! Many of these parents have expressed interest in more volunteer and leadership opportunities within the initiative. We are excited to keep up the momentum and build our Parent Advisory Committee!

Plant Grow Bloom

Coming Soon!

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Coming Soon! -

Be on the lookout for our next movement! We will be sharing summer activities for families to do at home on rainy days and out in our community. Follow/Like our pages on Facebook and Instagram and help us share this fun information with your clients.

If you have any creative ideas, feel free to email First1000Days@smh.com

New Partner Alert!

We’re proud to announce our new partner, Josh Provides Epilepsy Assistance Foundation. Josh Provides is dedicated to improve the quality of life for those living with epilepsy or other seizure disorders and eliminate the stigma and social isolation associated with them.

Josh Provides offers epilepsy support groups, seizure alert and detection devices, and transportation and travel.

For more information, please visit www.joshprovides.org/

New Steering Committee Member

We want to give a warm welcome to First 1,000 Days’ newest addition, Lauri Benson.
Lauri is a Social Services Director for the DeSoto Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), where she administers programs such as low-income home energy and water assistance, state housing initiative partnership, and much more. Lauri has been with the BOCC for over 15 years and prior lived in Massachusetts where she worked for Dare Family Services as a Medical Case Manager in a group home for Pregnant and Parenting teens.
We are ecstatic to have Lauri on our team and create more connections throughout our region to improve the access to care for families and pregnant individuals.

Calls-to-Action for Partners

Register for our full partner meeting on August 4th from 2-3pm
Share parenting education content from the First 1,000 Days Suncoast Facebook and Instagram pages
Join the Unite Us network to address social determinant of health needs and send closed-loop electronic referrals for families to medical, mental health, and social services.
Encourage any parent leaders that you work with to consider joining our regional Parent Advisory Committee! E-mail Tina-wilson@smh.com to learn more.

Summer is in Full Swing!