A group of 32 community partners in Sarasota County are teaming up to strengthen prenatal care and early childhood development services in the county...it’s called First 1000 Days. It’s part of a broader, statewide effort called First 1000 Days Florida – Sarasota County is the first local affiliate. The idea is driven by the fact that 52% of babies born in the county last year were born into families living in poverty, and 80% of brain development happens before a child’s second birthday, so getting families connected to the right services early on is crucial. The effort, which officially launched last week, is being led by the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, and is being facilitated by the former director of the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County, Bill Little. We’re joined now by Kelly Romanoff, she’s Projects Manager for the Foundation, and joins us by phone from her office in Sarasota.
First 1000 Days Aims to Strengthen Early Childhood Development in Sarasota County
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