CSC Leon’s partnership with Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition expands access to care for at-risk mothers and babies in our community.
TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Children’s Service Council of Leon County (CSC Leon) and the Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition (CAHSC) are celebrating significant progress toward improving maternal and infant health outcomes through the Community Outreach and Support Team (COAST) Through Pregnancy Program.
COAST was launched as a pilot in December 2023 to connect at-risk pregnant and postpartum women with trained Perinatal Navigators who provide individualized education, care coordination, referrals, and support to address medical, mental health, and social needs. Designed as a universal program to reduce stigma around seeking help, COAST welcomes mothers prenatally and stays with them through the baby’s first birthday, ensuring they are connected to the right resources at the right time and establishing a strong foundation for their child’s healthy development.
With significant investment from CSC Leon, COAST expanded in late 2024 to collocate navigators within prenatal provider offices. Today, the program is available in seven locations, thereby reaching the majority of pregnant women in Leon County. While early progress is promising, its most meaningful impact will be measured in the coming year through rates of healthy births and developmental milestones among enrolled children.
Council Chair Darryl Jones is ecstatic about the initial impact. “To see that more than 700 expectant moms in our community are receiving these services is absolutely amazing,” he said. “We know that the earlier we can support expectant moms and their babies, the better outcomes we will see for the mother, infant and, frankly, the entire family. This is one of the many ways CSC Leon is supporting our earliest learners toward achieving success in school and life.”
“COAST is transforming, and even saving lives,” explained Chris Szorcsik, CAHSC Executive Director. “By connecting expectant mothers, especially those facing high-risk pregnancies, with comprehensive support that extends beyond medical care, the program is helping mothers avert medical emergencies, access essential treatment, find safe housing, and break free from intimate partner violence.”
Council Vice Chair Terrence Watts is a huge fan of the program, as well, noting that “This program has the potential to accomplish everything we believe the Children’s Services Council should be doing. It reaches across so many pockets of need and supports families where it matters most.”
To date, COAST has completed nearly 1,900 initial intakes and enrolled 735 mothers into ongoing services in Leon County alone. Of these, perinatal navigators have successfully connected 82 percent with more intensive support, such as home visiting or mental health counseling. In addition, COAST provides health monitoring devices and Trimester Bags to support healthy pregnancies and postpartum recovery.
The full Progress Report, available here, highlights the program’s growing impact from inception through September 30, 2025.
Recent Comments