90+ Community Organizations.
Parent Leaders.
1 Shared Purpose.
First 1,000 Days Suncoast helps families during pregnancy and their child’s first 1,000 days of life, when 80 percent of child brain development occurs.
Our partnership of nonprofit organizations and health care providers is creating a seamless network of free and affordable services to provide families with the support they need so every child can have a strong start in life.
First 1,000 Days is a member of Vroom by Text.
OUR VISION
We envision a supportive community that helps families provide a safe, stable, loving environment so that children are healthy, resilient, and can reach their dreams!
OUR MISSION
To support and connect families with resources during pregnancy and throughout a child’s first 1000 days, when critical development occurs.
OUR HISTORY
The earlier the investment, the greater the return. This is Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation’s philosophy on the life-changing importance of investing in prenatal care and early childhood development. This philosophy is what drove Barancik Foundation, alongside Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and many other community partners to explore how our initiative can better provide families with the foundational support they need during babies’ critical early years. In 2018, the First 1,000 Days initiative was born, and we are pleased to see the efforts grow into a network of dozens of community partners.
Meet our Team!
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Chelsea Arnold, DNP, APRN, FNP-bc
Initiative Manager
Prior to her current role, Chelsea worked as a Nurse Practitioner, where she saw firsthand the struggles families faced navigating services in the community. From her education and experience, she knows how important the early years are for a child’s development; connecting families with resources is key to foster resilience. Chelsea holds two bachelor’s degrees - one in Biology and another in Nursing. She has a Doctorate in Nursing Practice, with a concentration in Family Medicine. Chelsea’s passion is building relationships - between organizations to coordinate care, service providers and their clients to build trust, and parents with their children to help families thrive. She believes to make a difference, collaboration amongst partner organizations and parents in the community is key.
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Janice Houchins, MSW, LCSW
Coordinator
Prior to joining the First 1,000 Days Initiative, Janice helped lead a statewide, cross-system initiative in Ohio designed to streamline and coordinate systems and services for families with children ages birth through 21 years. Janice is thrilled to now focus on early childhood since the first three years of a child’s life is the best opportunity to impact development that supports life-long success. She also fully believes that when organizations work together, they can better serve families, enhance service provider capacities, and help build healthier communities. Janice has a Master of Social Work degree and is independently licensed. -
Tina Wilson, RN, BSN
Family Navigator
Tina understands the complexities of the healthcare system and is comfortable navigating challenging medical and social circumstances. She is a beloved NICU nurse; families adore her, and she has had MANY comment cards from parents over the years stating her exemplary work supporting them during such a stressful and difficult time. Tina has also worked with many Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome babies and their families. She holds two Bachelor's degrees - one in Nursing and another in Health Sciences, a minor in Public Health, and is bilingual. Lastly, Tina has been described by her peers as a born leader and someone who was meant to do big things.
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Renee King
Family Navigator
Renee joins our team with over 15 years of experience working with women and children of all ages. Her experience spans across public, private, and non-profit sectors. She understands the importance of families being connected to resources and feeling supported during their parenting journey. Prior to her role as Family Navigator, Renee worked in the Women & Children's Unit at Sarasota Memorial Hospital where she developed a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by families. She brings a wealth of experience in mental health counseling, particularly in supporting individuals struggling with substance abuse and for those facing challenges during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Renee holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Social Work and a Minor in Women’s Studies. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker whose approach is grounded in compassion, advocacy, and empowerment. Renee is excited to walk along families to offer support and encouragement during this season of their lives.
Steering Committee
Carla Johanns
Chief Program Officer
Forty Carrots Family Center
Ashley Coone
Chief Executive Officer
Links to Success
Jordan Mayer
Director of Family Services
Harvest House
Sara Oleson
Associate Executive Director
Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County
Jennifer Carey
CEO
Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center
Abby Olsen
Director of Women and Children’s Services
Sarasota Memorial Hospital - Sarasota Campus
Partnership is the Pulse of our work
Galatians 6:2
Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center
Good News Network
Goodwill Manasota
Gulf Central Early Steps
Gulf Coast Community Foundation
Harvest House
Healthy Families
Healthy Start Coalition of Manatee County
Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County
HOPE Pathways
Jewish Family & Children Services
Kim’s Krew
LightShare
Links 2 Success
Manatee County Schools
Manatee Memorial Hospital
MCR Health
Meals on Wheels
Multicultural Health Institute
More Too Life
Mothers Helping Mothers
NAMI
Next-Mark Media
Now Psych
Parenting Matters
Parents as Teachers
Pregnancy Solutions
Redlands Christian Migrant Association
All Faiths Food Bank
Aqua-Tots
Arcadia Housing Authority
Banyan Pediatrics
Barancik Foundation
Blaze of Hope
A Bond of Love
Bridge A Life
Career Source
CareNet Manasota
CASL
Charlie Health
CenterPlace Health
Centerstone
Children First
Community Foundation of Sarasota
DeSoto Family Service Center
DeSoto Library
Drug Free America
Early Learning Coalition
Easterseals
Family Network on Disabilities
Feeding Tampa Bay
First Physician’s Group OB/GYN
Florida Association for Infant Mental Health
Florida Department of Children and Families
Florida Department of Health
Florida Maternal Mental Health Collaborative
Forty Carrots
Resilient Retreat
Safe Children Coalition
Samaritan Counseling
Sarasota County Schools
Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
SOLVE Maternity Homes
SRQ Strong
St. Vincent de Paul CARES
Step Up Suncoast
Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness
Tampa Bay 211/988
The Bay Sarasota
The Boys & Girls Club
The Children’s Movement of Florida
The Florida Center for Early Childhood
The Patterson Foundation
The Salvation Army
Turning Points
Unidos Now
United Way Suncoast
Unite Us
We Care Manatee
Whole Child Manatee
Women’s Resource Center
YMCA Southwest Florida