Healthy Start Coalition, Inc. of Bay, Franklin and Gulf Counties

08/21/2026

💚 Need Help? Healthy Start Is Here to Connect You.

Pregnancy, postpartum, and the early years of parenting can come with a lot of questions. You don’t have to know exactly what kind of help you need before reaching out.

Healthy Start can help connect families with support such as:

🩺 Prenatal and postpartum care resources
👶 Parenting and newborn support
🤱 Breastfeeding education and support
🏡 Home visiting services
🤝 Referrals to local programs and community resources
📅 Help getting connected to services and appointments

If you have questions, need support, or aren’t sure where to start, reach out. We can help point you in the right direction.

Visit HealthyStartBFG.com to learn more about services available in Bay, Franklin, and Gulf Counties.

08/19/2026

💚 August is National Breastfeeding Month

Breastfeeding can provide important health benefits for both babies and moms. Breast milk gives babies nutrition that supports growth and development while also helping protect against certain illnesses and infections.

For moms, breastfeeding can support postpartum recovery and offers important health benefits over time.

But breastfeeding can also come with questions, challenges, and a learning curve. Support matters. Lactation professionals, healthcare providers, family members, and community programs can all play a role in helping moms feel informed and supported.

Whether you're preparing to breastfeed, currently breastfeeding, pumping, or working through challenges, you deserve encouragement and access to reliable support.

This Breastfeeding Month, we're celebrating the importance of breastfeeding education, support, and making sure families have the resources they need to make informed choices.

Learn more at HealthyStartBFG.com.

08/18/2026

Come out and join us tomorrow and take a tour!

Attention Expecting Parents. We’re here for you.

Expecting parents and their support people are invited to Bump to Baby: Your Birth Journey Starts Here, a free community event at HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital.

Meet our care team, tour our Labor and Delivery and Mother-Baby units, ask questions and take part in educational and hands-on activities. You’ll also connect with local resources to help you feel informed, prepared and supported throughout your birth journey.

📅 Wednesday, Aug. 19
⏰ 9 a.m. to noon
📍 HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital cafeteria
449 W. 23rd St., Panama City
Enter through the Main Entrance and follow the signs.

Spanish-speaking assistance will be available. Guests can also enjoy light refreshments, giveaways and door prizes.

Mark your calendar and bring your support people. All are welcome! For more information, call 850-769-8341.

08/17/2026

💚 Postpartum Reminder: Taking Care of You Matters, Too

The weeks after having a baby can be filled with joy, exhaustion, recovery, and a lot of adjustment. While caring for your baby, it’s important to make space for your own health, too.

A few postpartum reminders:

🛌 Rest when you can. Your body is healing, and recovery takes time. Accept help with meals, chores, and baby care when it’s available.

🥗 Keep nourishing your body. Regular meals, snacks, and plenty of fluids can support healing and energy.

🩺 Keep your postpartum appointments. These visits are an important time to talk about physical recovery, feeding, sleep, birth control, and any concerns you may have.

💚 Pay attention to your mental health. Mood changes can happen after birth, but persistent sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, feeling disconnected, or having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby need prompt support from a healthcare professional.

🤝 Ask for help before you feel overwhelmed. Support from family, friends, your healthcare provider, and community resources can make a meaningful difference.

Postpartum care is not just about recovering from delivery. It’s about supporting the whole person as they adjust to life with a new baby.

Learn more and find support at HealthyStartBFG.com.

08/11/2026

Healthy vision is an important part of a child’s development. It supports learning, coordination, confidence, and the way children explore the world around them.

Parents and caregivers can help protect children’s eye health by:

👁️ Keeping up with recommended vision screenings and eye exams
☀️ Using sunglasses that provide UVA and UVB protection
🧸 Choosing age-appropriate toys and avoiding sharp or pointed objects
📱 Encouraging regular breaks from screens
⚽ Using protective eyewear for sports and activities when appropriate
🩺 Watching for signs like frequent squinting, eye rubbing, headaches, sitting very close to screens, or an eye that turns in or out

Young children may not always know how to tell you that something looks blurry or feels different, which is why screenings and early attention to concerns are so important.

Healthy eyes help children learn, grow, and thrive.

Learn more at HealthyStartBFG.com.

08/07/2026

The Bay, Franklin, Gulf Healthy Start Coalition recently partnered with HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital to deliver Cribs for Kids® Pack 'n Plays to the Women's Center, ensuring families in need have a safe sleep space to take home after their baby's birth.

Recent local data has shown an increase in sleep-related infant deaths, making it more important than ever for families to follow the ABCs of Safe Sleep:
💙 Alone – Babies should sleep alone in their own sleep space.
💙 Back – Always place babies on their backs for every sleep.
💙 Crib – Use a firm, flat sleep surface with no blankets, pillows, toys, or bumpers.

A special thank you to Alicia, Celeste, and Kayla for the important role they play in educating families about safe sleep every day. Together, we're working to give every baby the healthiest and safest possible start.

08/04/2026

Attention Expecting Parents. We’re here for you.

Expecting parents and their support people are invited to Bump to Baby: Your Birth Journey Starts Here, a free community event at HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital.

Meet our care team, tour our Labor and Delivery and Mother-Baby units, ask questions and take part in educational and hands-on activities. You’ll also connect with local resources to help you feel informed, prepared and supported throughout your birth journey.

📅 Wednesday, Aug. 19
⏰ 9 a.m. to noon
📍 HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital cafeteria
449 W. 23rd St., Panama City
Enter through the Main Entrance and follow the signs.

Spanish-speaking assistance will be available. Guests can also enjoy light refreshments, giveaways and door prizes.

Mark your calendar and bring your support people. All are welcome! For more information, call 850-769-8341.

08/01/2026

Please join us in congratulating Sharon Trainor, Executive Director of the Healthy Start Coalition of Bay, Franklin, and Gulf Counties, on being named an Honorary Commander for the 325th Medical Support Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base for the 2026–2028 term.

The Honorary Commander Program strengthens partnerships between military leaders and community leaders, fostering collaboration, mutual understanding, and a shared commitment to serving our region.

Sharon's selection is a testament to her leadership, dedication to improving maternal and child health, and her unwavering commitment to building stronger, healthier communities across Bay, Franklin, and Gulf Counties.

We are incredibly proud to see Healthy Start represented through this meaningful partnership and look forward to the opportunities it will create to support both military families and our local community.

Congratulations, Sharon, on this well-deserved honor! We know you'll represent Healthy Start with the same passion and compassion you bring to families every day.

💚💙

08/01/2026

LOOK! These aren't even all of them you guy's! Make sure you join us in the morning! 10-12 First United Methodist!