Healthy families Florida puts Zika Prevention Kits in the hands of families

healthy-familes-florida-putHealthy families Florida puts Zika Prevention Kits in the hands of families

Uses home visiting relationships to share critical public health information

    TALLAHASSEE, FL – Healthy Families Florida has launched an effort to provide Zika prevention supplies and critical information about the virus directly to thousands of families in 11 Florida counties. Trusted family support workers in the Healthy Families network are delivering the kits to more than 4,000 families who participate in Healthy Families’ voluntary parent coaching and support program.

The kits include insect repellent, bed nets, standing water treatment tabs and informational flyers. They are being distributed to families in Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward, Palm Beach, Orange, Collier, Hillsborough, Lee, Osceola, Polk and Seminole counties. Healthy Families and the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida developed the project with support from the Florida Blue Foundation, the Spearman Family Foundation, Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions, Florida District of Kiwanis, the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Department of Children and Families. Local Kiwanis and Key Clubs assembled the kits for distribution.

“Florida families, especially pregnant women and their babies, are at risk of life-changing health consequences from the Zika virus,” said Jennifer Ohlsen, Executive Director of Healthy Families Florida. “Our existing network of family support workers has built relationships with families, established trust and regularly visits them in their homes. We are a natural fit for delivering critical public health messages and important prevention resources, such as the Zika prevention kits.”

“Many families in our state face barriers to receiving the latest information about Zika and resources to prevent transmission,” said Department of Children and Families Secretary Mike Carroll. “I commend Healthy Families Florida on how it has mobilized its network to ensure families receive accurate and timely information about the risks of Zika and how to protect themselves. We are proud of the work Healthy Families does to keep Florida’s children healthy and safe.”

“We cannot ignore this health crisis. Now that Zika has arrived in our backyard, we must consider how Zika will affect ourselves, our families and our children. We are thankful to the many partners who understand the importance of promoting Zika prevention and have supported this far-reaching project,” said Douglas Sessions, Jr., President and CEO of the Ounce of Prevention Fund.

To learn more about the Ounce of Prevention Fund’s Zika prevention kit project, visit www.ounce.org.

About Carma Henry 26544 Articles
Carma Lynn Henry Westside Gazette Newspaper 545 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 Office: (954) 525-1489 Fax: (954) 525-1861

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