The phrase “It takes a village” is true for expectant mothers and families — having a support system throughout pregnancy, delivery and newborn care is invaluable. That village at UF Health Jacksonville is made up of passionate and skilled nurses and staff whose goals are to provide support, resources and access to high-quality health care.

UF Health Jacksonville has several programs to help pregnant women and new moms, including Healthy Start, Little Miracles, Nurse-Family Partnership and Connect, a one-stop entry point to help patients find the right service for their needs.

Little Miracles is open to all expectant mothers who are delivering at UF Health Jacksonville. This program was developed to provide assistance with scheduling medical appointments and applying for Medicaid. Little Miracles offers educational materials and classes, and even hosts free baby showers throughout the year.

Expectant mothers are given a tour of the Labor and Delivery Unit at UF Health Jacksonville. They can also be referred to other support programs, including the Healthy Start Program and Nurse-Family Partnership, or NFP.

Healthy Start is available for expectant mothers and families with children up to age 3. Healthy Start offers screenings for mothers and their infants, care coordination for moderate-risk patients and case management for high-risk patients.

Ongoing prenatal and parenting education is provided, along with home visits for one-on-one support. Nurses can also assist with referrals and connecting patients with other health care providers, like dietitians and social workers.

Ana-Bernal Martinez, a registered nurse with Healthy Start, emphasized, “Whether patients are uninsured or underinsured, or have language or socioeconomic barriers, we are here to support them.”

A mom successfully completes the program after 13 months, but the relationship with her nurse does not stop there.

“We have had moms come back when they’re expecting their second child, asking for the same nurse,” said Martinez. “They want to continue their relationship with the same person after that initial level of trust was developed.”

A mother of a premature baby born at UF Health recently sent a kind letter to thank staff and Martinez for all the support and guidance provided throughout her pregnancy and beyond. About Martinez, she emphasized, “You have always been a phone call away. You cared about my mental and physical health. You are such a nurturing person. I learned so much through our day, night and evening conversations. You made (having a child during) the pandemic OK because you always answered my calls!”

NFP is a two-year home-visit program for new parents living in high-risk communities. Specially trained UF Health nurses provide education and support to first-time mothers. Mothers can be referred by Little Miracles, Connect or any other agency.

Once the child turns 2, NFP nurses and families take part in a celebratory graduation ceremony. Camila Restrepo, a registered nurse with NFP, continuously develops lasting relationships with patients in the program.

When the COVID-19 pandemic started, nurses and staff swiftly thought of ways to stay safely connected with patients and families.

Martinez continued to schedule regular calls with her patients in the Healthy Start program. She hosted multiple virtual education events, including childbirth classes. She also quickly thought of a safe and easy alternative to in-person tours of the Labor and Delivery Unit.

“I decided to film the unit and create a video tour,” said Martinez. “This allowed patients to virtually tour our unit and still feel connected to our facility and staff.”

Community outreach is a major focus for each program. Claudette Christopher, a Connect supervisor and quality assurance educator, works closely with staff in each program, monitors screenings and referrals, and coordinates community and educational events. COVID-19 did not stop her team from staying engaged with new moms.

“We hosted and participated in outdoor events to continue to provide educational resources and supplies to families,” Christopher said. “We were even able to hold a safe and socially distant drive-thru graduation for NFP families to celebrate their accomplishments.”

Restrepo also continued to support her patients. She dropped off supplies at patients’ homes and safely spoke with families from a distance.

Nurses and staff members in these programs are extremely passionate about supporting mothers, families and the community. They are proud to come together from different backgrounds and levels of experience to make a difference in patients’ lives. Nurses and staff in the Healthy Start, Little Miracles and Nurse-Family Partnership programs were named the “most diverse department” in 2016 by the UF Health Jacksonville Diversity Council. In addition, UF Health Jacksonville was deemed a Healthy Start Employer by the Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition in 2018.

“These programs serve as a safety net for our patients,” said Martinez. “Everything we do breaks down barriers to health care access, so all moms and families can have a healthy and safe pregnancy and delivery.”

“We work together — we are UF Health,” said Christopher. “We are an extension of health care. We focus on prevention and education, covering conditions that women may not even know can affect them throughout pregnancy and beyond.”

For questions or more information on these programs, please contact director of obstetric services, Donna Ghanayem, at 904.244.8108.