JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - s4story -- More than 50 leaders representing healthcare systems, Medicaid managed care organizations, government agencies, hospitals, physician practices, and community organizations gathered at Jacksonville University for the Northeast Florida Prenatal Care Access Summit, a regional effort focused on improving access to prenatal care and creating healthier outcomes for mothers and babies across Northeast Florida.

Hosted by the Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition and the city of Jacksonville, the summit brought together stakeholders from across the maternal health landscape to address a shared challenge: ensuring every woman can access prenatal care early and consistently throughout pregnancy.

Rather than simply discussing the issue, participants worked to identify practical solutions, forge new partnerships, and make organizational commitments aimed at improving prenatal care access over the next 90 days and beyond.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan praised the summit's focus on collaboration and action.

"Every baby deserves the chance to celebrate a first birthday, and every family deserves the opportunity to watch their child grow and thrive. If babies in our community are dying from causes we can prevent, then we have a responsibility to act. We cannot accept infant mortality as inevitable. We must bring together the right people, challenge ourselves to think differently, and build a strategy that gives every mother and every baby the healthiest possible start. Jacksonville's future depends on it."

Among the priorities identified during the summit were improving care navigation for expectant mothers, increasing awareness of available resources, strengthening provider participation, enhancing care coordination among healthcare and community partners, and exploring innovative approaches to reaching women earlier in pregnancy.

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"Improving timely access to prenatal care is essential to ensuring healthier outcomes for both mothers and babies across Florida," said Dr. Maria Samerson, Chief Medical Officer of Sunshine Health. "Sunshine Health is proud to work alongside dedicated partners who are committed to identifying barriers and advancing meaningful, community-driven solutions. By working together, we can strengthen care coordination, expand access, and ensure every family has the support they need for a healthy start."

Participants submitted organizational commitment cards outlining specific actions they are willing to pursue, including expanding community outreach, strengthening partnerships among providers, hospitals, doulas, and community organizations, exploring mobile prenatal care services, updating and sharing regional resource guides, and participating in pilot projects designed to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

One of the key commitments emerging from the summit was a shared interest in simplifying how pregnant women access care and services. The Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition committed to exploring a more coordinated navigation strategy to help mothers identify providers who accept Medicaid, better understand available benefits and resources, navigate enrollment and paperwork requirements, and connect with support services through a streamlined, community-centered approach.

"This summit was designed to move from conversation to action," said Faye Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of the Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition. "What was most encouraging was the willingness of organizations across sectors to make tangible commitments. Today's discussion reinforced that no single organization can solve this challenge alone, but together we can remove barriers, improve access, and create better outcomes for mothers and babies throughout Northeast Florida."

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The summit also featured remarks from Dr. Christopher R. Cogle, Chief Medical Officer for Florida Medicaid, who highlighted Florida's new From the Start initiative and opportunities for communities to leverage expanded maternal health resources and services.

"What gives me confidence in the future of maternal and infant health in Northeast Florida is the expertise, commitment, and passion demonstrated by the leaders gathered here today," said Dr. Cogle. "When healthcare providers, community organizations, health plans, and public leaders come together around a common goal, meaningful progress becomes possible."

The Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition will continue convening partners in the months ahead to advance the priorities identified during the summit, support implementation efforts, and track progress on the commitments made by participating organizations.

About the Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition

The Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing infant mortality, improving maternal health, and strengthening families throughout Northeast Florida. Through direct services, community partnerships, advocacy, and systems improvement efforts, the Coalition works to ensure every baby has the opportunity for a healthy start and every family has access to the support they need to thrive.

For more information, visit www.nefhsc.org.