Fall is in the Air: September Newsletter

As autumn approaches, the First 1000 Days Sarasota is celebrating some major milestones. We launched the Unite Us Care Coordination platform, collected information on community referral practices through a partner survey, and created our Parent Advisory Committee. Read about our exciting updates below and a partner spotlight thanking one of our partners/volunteers!

Moving from a Maze of Resources to a Coordinated System of Care

The much anticipated Unite Us platform launched on August 27th with 53 organizations and 85 unique programs. Taking into account the size of our community and the expedited start date, we have been one of the most successful launches for Unite Us. Our Community Engagement Manager, Dr. Amanda Terry, believes this speaks to the partnerships we have in our community and the incredible network we have built through the initiative. So far over 100 referrals have been placed in the platform! A few success stories have already been circulating from our partner organizations. From these stories we have recognized the impact the platform will not only have on the clients, but in preventing burnout amongst our hardworking frontline staff. Through the closed loop referral platform, the diligent professionals working directly with families will have peace of mind that they were able to connect families with someone who could address their needs.

COVID-19 has shown us just how fragile the system is and how much work needs to be done to support families in our community. There will likely be an influx of families needing assistance who have never needed it before in areas of benefit navigation, childcare, financial support, mortgage/rent assistance, access to food, etc. Unite Us will be a powerful tool to connect those most at risk with medical, mental health, and social services in our community.

Unite Us is widening the net in Sarasota and Manatee County to include all CBOs and non-profits at no extra fee. If you know of a community organization that would benefit from using Unite Us and/or would be key to the network, please connect them with our Unite Us Community Engagement Manager, Dr. Amanda Terry

Why Do People “Fall Through the Cracks”?

The First 1000 Days Sarasota collected preliminary data on referral processes in our community. There were 55 responses from a wide variety of social service, mental health, substance abuse, and healthcare professionals. There is some powerful information from the survey really proving the potential for the Unite Us platform. Some of the most telling results were how families are currently referred for services and the reasons why they never get connected.

The top ways First 1000 Days Sarasota professionals currently refer families in our community is via phone call and providing clients/patients information and encouraging them to call. The top reason these direct client/patient workers believe families fall through the cracks is because the families never contact the organizations. This information emphasizes that in our community it is critical to provide a warm hand-off and connection with organizations with follow-up to ensure they were contacted. We will repeat this survey in a year to look at impacts and improvement areas.

Congratulations to our randomly selected winners, James Fleeman, Peg Hughes, Meredith Piazza, Fernando Rivera, and Lynda Sauls who will receive a $20 gift card through their e-mail!

Our Client Navigation workgroup will be meeting monthly to share client success stories, celebrate the partnerships between agencies, discuss lessons learned, and address ongoing barriers in “navigating the system”. Our Community Engagement Manager, Dr. Amanda Terry, will also be there to answer any questions about Unite Us. Please e-mail Chelsea Arnold or Paige Mouchett, chair of the workgroup, if you would like to be a part of the monthly meetings.

Parent Voice

The First 1000 Days Sarasota Parent Advisory Committee will have its first meeting on September 30th. Ann Hardy, with Sarasota County Libraries has graciously volunteered to facilitate the meetings. We are thrilled to have her leading the meetings and providing a safe haven for parents to share their own stories and aspirations and dreams for themselves, their children, and the community. Ann was heavily involved in facilitating the Parent Focus groups held by the First 1000 Days late last year, she has a soothing presence and a powerful ability to help people feel comfortable. Fourteen parents will sit on the committee over the next year and two will serve on the Steering Committee to ensure parent voice is woven into every aspect of the initiative.

Partner Spotlight

A huge thank you to Joan Love, First 1000 Days Sarasota volunteer! Joan wrote and illustrated a children’s book called I Like You, For You and is donating all proceeds from her book sales to the First 1000 Days Sarasota.

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About The Author

Joan Love had a 40-year career as an Educator and had the opportunity to teach in numerous schools throughout North America both children, adults, and teachers. She is now retired in Sarasota, Florida. Joan has read thousands of books to her students, her two beautiful daughters, and now her precious grandchildren. A lifetime dream was to write-illustrate a children’s book. She is thrilled that she can share her dream with you and help support First 1000 Days by giving 100% of the proceeds from her book to this great charity. So enjoy reading about Stuart, a South African Penguin as he asks his friends, ”What makes me, me?” and realizes that he is perfect exactly the way he is. Hence the book is titled, “I Like You, For You!” The book can be purchased at Apricot Lane Boutique on St. Armands Circle.

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October Newsletter: Let’s Celebrate!

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