Pasco Healthy Families Participant’s Speak at Advocacy Breakfast Hosted by Kiwanis

 On January 26, the Florida District of Kiwanis hosted its 5th annual fundraising breakfast in support of Healthy Families Florida as part of their advocacy efforts during Children’s Week 2016. As part of a statewide partnership with Healthy Families, the Florida District of Kiwanis Club hosts the fundraiser to aid statewide efforts to educate and nurture families.Visiting the CapitolDana, Shannon and Adam with Senator SimpsonShannon and Adam presenting at Childrens Week

Adam Sawyer is a father, husband and a participant in the Healthy Families program in Pasco County. “When we began participating in Healthy Families, we had almost no support and were facing really hard times. I was incarcerated and fighting addiction. My wife was pregnant, alone and dependent on the kindness of family and friends. Through Healthy Families I learned how to set goals and handle stress in positive ways, allowing me to become the best father I could be for my family. I’m happy to say I have been sober for 3 years. We have stable jobs and a home of our own. Our family is thriving and we know it is because we joined Healthy Families,” Adam said. Adam and his wife Shannon shared their story as featured speakers during the breakfast as well as at the Children’s Week Awards Dinner and Reception. They also had the opportunity to visit the Capitol including some of our local Legislators.

Healthy Families Pasco-Hernando is a voluntary, home visiting program providing positive parenting education to at risk families who are pregnant or have a newborn. Visits include an activity to promote parent child interaction, bonding and brain development and assist in developing goals and referrals to community resources to improve self-sufficiency.

Pasco Kids First, Inc., the lead agency for Healthy Families Pasco-Hernando, is a private, not-for-profit organization serving kids and families for 26 years and is dedicated to the prevention, assessment and treatment of child abuse and neglect.

“Healthy Families and Kiwanis share a strong mutual commitment to investing in the critical years from birth through age five that lays the foundation for healthy child development and future success, consistent with the goals of the Kiwanis International Young Children: Priority One Initiative,” said Dr. Celia Earle, Florida District of Kiwanis Governor. “We are proud to partner with such an effective program to further our common mission of improving the lives of Florida’s children.”

“We are grateful to Kiwanis leaders across the state who help us to raise awareness and support for this highly effective program,” said Jennifer Ohlsen, Executive Director of Healthy Families Florida.

“We are honored that our participants were selected to share their story and are so proud of Shannon and Adam,” said Dana Selfridge, Program Manager of Healthy Families Pasco-Hernando.

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For more information about Healthy Families Pasco-Hernando or Pasco Kids First, visit www.pascokidsfirst.org.

For more information about Florida District of Kiwanis, visit http://floridakiwanis.com.

For more information about Healthy Families Florida, visit www.healthyfamiliesfla.org.