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Features
U. S. Rep. Wants To End Infant Mortality In Tampa Bay
Ms. Lo Berry, CEO of REACHUP, Inc., left, is shown with U. S. Representative Kathy Castor, and Ms. Patrice Ware and two of her three children.
Last month, U. S. Rep. Kathy Castor visited a Healthy Start family in Tampa to highlight federal invest- ments in Tampa Bay aimed at reducing infant mortality rates and lifting families and neigh- borhoods. Rep. Castor vis- ited with Ms. Patrice Ware and her children at the Hills- borough County Children’s Board Family Resource Cen- ter. The facility is one of six lo- cated in Hillsborough County.
Rep. Castor said, “Some of Tampa’s neighborhoods are the toughest in the country for kids to escape poverty. But with a healthy start they have opportunities later in life to break the cycle.
“We’re lucky to have these resources in our community. That’s why it’s important for the community to support REACHUP and Healthy Start,” Rep. Castor said.
Rep. Castor continued, “Healthy Start has successfully reached out to families who need it most and the infant mortality rate has been cut in half in their targeted areas, but I’m not satisfied until infant mortality is zero (0) in Tampa Bay.”
Rep. Castor has champi- oned Healthy Start initiatives in Tampa Bay and most re- cently helped to secure $1.6 million for the effort to con- tinue in Hillsborough County.
Ms. Lo Berry, CEO of REACHUP, Inc. said, “We have one of the most outstand- ing Healthy Start initiatives in the country under REACHUP.”
Ms. Berry said REACHUP, Inc., is a nonprofit in Tampa that focuses on child development, self-sufficiency, and health and safety and serves more than 1,200
through the Healthy Start fed- eral grant.
In addition, REACHUP mentors other Healthy Start initiatives throughout the country to help them achieve the same high results.
Ms. Ware is a mother of three and was referred to Healthy Start by her doctor while she was pregnant with Victory, who is now 7 months and anxious to walk.
A few weeks after enrolling in the program, a nurse started visiting her at home to ensure a healthy pregnancy was un- derway for Ms. Ware.
After the birth of her child, Healthy Start continued to offer Ms. Ware educational information and advice about breastfeeding and other im- portant development mile- stones to support a thriving first year for her baby.
Organization’s Founder Takes Concerns To Washington On ‘Day On Capitol Hill
Last month, Ms. Vanessa Johnson, founder and CEO of Blue Moon 211, Inc., was among those who took part in “Day On Capitol Hill,” in Washington, D. C.
Ms. Johnson visited the city to bring more attention to her mission of suicide preven- tion. During her visit, Ms. Johnson had an opportunity to speak with several elected officials representing the State of Florida.
Ms. Johnson said, “I pray that we will see a de- crease in the numbers versus an increase with the support of our Congressmen and women. I know that together, we can make the world a bet- ter place for all.
“We will continue to strive forward, helping to break the stigma of mental health and to give hope to the hopeless with prevention and intervention programs. Suicide took the lives of over 41,000 people in 2013.”
During her visit, Ms. Johnson met with Con- gresswoman Kathy Cas- tor, Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Congressman Curt Clawson, Congress- man David Jolly, Con- gressman Rich Nugent, Congresswoman Freder- ica Wilson, Congress- woman Corrine Brown, and Congressman Alcee Hastings.
One of the bills discussed during the meetings pertained to obtaining psychosocial as- sessment and screening be- fore inmates are released from prison and intervention pro- grams after they are released.
Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, left, is shown with Ms. Vanessa Johnson during Ms. Johnson’s visit to Washington, D. C.
Ms. Johnson also re- quested funding or an in- crease in funding several bills those bills include: Helping Families In Mental Health Crisis Act (H. R. 2646); in- crease funding for Suicide Prevention Research; fully funding NVDRS to expand to states currently not funded; the Military/ Veteran Legisla- tive Care Package (S. 714, S.715, and S.717); increasing funding of the DoD/VA sui- cide prevention programs and services; the Mental Health in Schools Act (H. R. 1211); and The Mental Health First Aid Act (H. R. 1877).
Ms. Johnson hosts com- munity conversations pertain- ing to mental health every Monday of each month. The meetings, entitled “Keeping It Moving,” are held at the Semi- nole Heights Library and are open to the public.
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