About Charlotte County Healthy Start · Port Charlotte
Charlotte County Healthy Start is a Port Charlotte, Florida-based nonprofit coalition (formed in 2001) that connects pregnant women, infants, and families to free, community-based maternal and child health services. As a local arm of the statewide Florida Healthy Start program, it provides care coordination, home visiting, breastfeeding education, parenting classes, smoking cessation support, psychosocial counseling, and fatherhood programming. Its mission is to improve birth outcomes, optimize child development, and reduce infant mortality by giving at-risk women and newborns access to care before, during, and after pregnancy.
The Charlotte County Healthy Start Coalition, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 65-0727055) headquartered at 17825 Murdock Circle, Unit B, Port Charlotte, FL 33948. It was formally organized in 2001 and operates as part of Florida's statewide Healthy Start system, working alongside local doctors, nurses, the Charlotte County Health Department, Charlotte Behavioral Health Care, WIC, and other community partners. The coalition plans and administers a coordinated system of care that gives pregnant women access to prenatal care and gives children from birth to age three access to services that promote healthy growth and development. What makes the coalition notable is the breadth of its free, wraparound services: needs assessment and risk-appropriate referral, home visiting by trained care coordinators, MomCare choice counseling for pregnancy Medicaid, breastfeeding and WIC education, childbirth classes, parenting education, smoking cessation support, psychosocial counseling (contracted through Charlotte Behavioral Health Care), diabetic nutritional counseling, prenatal care for uninsured mothers, and an Improving Pregnancy Outcomes (IPO) partnership with the local health department. It also runs a dedicated Fatherhood Initiative with programs such as TEAM Dad and Dad Matters, plus a CONNECT intake line that serves as a one-stop starting point for families unsure where to begin. The coalition is led by Executive Director Molly Toure and a small staff including a Community Liaison (Jerri M. Sutton), Program Manager (Jennifer Luikart), QA/QI Specialist (Jessica Broomall), CONNECT Specialist (Jordan), Home Visitors (Megan Trimble, Angie McBean, Any Aguilar) and Fatherhood Advocate (Chris Stevens).
- In business
- Formed in 2001 (501(c)(3) ruling year 2001; per GuideStar/IRS filings)
- Serves
- Charlotte County, Florida (Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda metro area)
Who We Are
Charlotte County Healthy Start is a Port Charlotte-based nonprofit coalition of doctors, nurses, and community health professionals. Its mission is to improve birth outcomes, optimize child development, and reduce infant mortality by providing access to care before, during, and after pregnancy for prenatal women and newborns determined to be at-risk for poor outcomes. The organization describes itself in community-first language: "We're neighbors, parents, and community members who believe every baby, and every caregiver, deserves a healthy start." Every mom-to-be and newborn in the service area is screened to determine the types of services they may need for a healthy start in life.
- Headquarters: 17825 Murdock Cir, Unit B, Port Charlotte, FL 33948
- Main phone: (941) 764-9700
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 65-0727055
- Formed/ruling year: 2001
- Operates as part of the Florida Healthy Start statewide program
Meet Our Team
The coalition is led by Executive Director Molly Toure and supported by a small multidisciplinary staff who serve as care coordinators, home visitors, a fatherhood advocate, and a CONNECT specialist. Bilingual staff are available to support Spanish-speaking families in Charlotte County.
- Molly Toure — Executive Director
- Jerri M. Sutton — Community Liaison
- Jennifer Luikart — Program Manager
- Jessica Broomall — QA/QI Specialist
- Jordan — CONNECT Specialist
- Megan Trimble — Home Visitor
- Angie McBean — Bilingual Home Visitor
- Any Aguilar — Home Visitor
- Chris Stevens — Fatherhood Advocate
How We Support Families
Families can reach out through a quick form, a phone call, or by stopping by the office. From there they are matched with a care coordinator or fatherhood advocate who walks alongside them — "here to walk with you, not lecture you." Together the team builds a plan that fits each family, whether that's connecting to resources, classes, baby supplies, or simply having someone to listen.
- Step 1: Reach Out (form, phone, or walk-in)
- Step 2: Get a Plan That Fits
- Step 3: Meet Your Person (care coordinator or fatherhood advocate)
CONNECT — One-Stop Starting Point
CONNECT is the coalition's intake and referral hub. Anyone unsure where to start can call CONNECT to be listened to and then linked with the right resources for their situation — whether that's healthcare, parenting support, or other community services. CONNECT is staffed by a dedicated specialist who triages needs and routes families into the appropriate Healthy Start program.
- Single entry point for healthcare, parenting, and community referrals
- Staffed by a CONNECT Specialist
- Available by phone, form, or in-person visit
Healthy Start Home Visiting
The flagship service pairs each family with a trained care coordinator who meets with them regularly at home, answers questions, and helps build confidence in caring for baby and self. Services include needs assessment, referral and enrollment in risk-appropriate services, improved pregnancy assessment, smoking cessation support, breastfeeding education and support, and parenting education.
- One-on-one in-home visits from supportive experts
- Care coordination for pregnancy and postpartum
- Referrals to housing, food, and medical care
- Mental health and postpartum depression support
Fatherhood Initiative
The Fatherhood Initiative supports fathers and father figures with children of any age. It offers classes, group hangouts, and one-on-one guidance to help dads connect, grow, and thrive. The coalition's own description: "Dads matter here." Two named programs sit under the initiative:
- TEAM Dad — group-based fatherhood engagement program
- Dad Matters — additional father-focused support and guidance
- One-on-one fatherhood advocacy (Fatherhood Advocate on staff)
- Group hangouts and classes open to all dads and father figures
Core Healthy Start Services
Beyond home visiting, the coalition administers a coordinated menu of risk-appropriate services, several of which are contracted through partner agencies such as Charlotte Behavioral Health Care and the Charlotte County Health Department.
- MomCare — choice counseling for pregnancy Medicaid and maternity provider selection
- Prenatal Care — physician-provided care for uninsured mothers who financially qualify
- IPO (Improving Pregnancy Outcomes) — pregnancy testing, Medicaid screening, vitamins, education
- Childbirth Education — certified childbirth educators covering labor, newborn care, postpartum, sibling prep, family planning
- Breastfeeding Education / WIC — education, support, and nutritional supplements
- Parenting Education — child growth, development, and managing child health problems
- Smoking Cessation — support for moms-to-be plus referrals to the Florida Quitline (1-877-822-6669)
- Psychosocial Counseling — confidential individual/group counseling, behavior modification, substance abuse counseling (contracted via Charlotte Behavioral Health Care)
- Diabetic Nutritional Counseling — for pregnant women with Type 1, Type 2, or gestational diabetes whose insurance does not cover diabetic education
Cost and Eligibility
Per the organization's published FAQ: services are completely free, with no strings attached. Florida Healthy Start is designed to be a low-barrier safety net for pregnant women and families with infants and toddlers identified as at-risk for poor outcomes.
- All Healthy Start services are free to participants
- Open to pregnant women and families with children birth to age 3 who are identified as at-risk
- Bilingual (Spanish/English) staff available
Frequently Asked Questions
The organization's own FAQ section highlights the most common questions asked by families in the community.
- What is the Florida Healthy Start program? — A program helping moms, babies, and families stay healthy and thrive; connects pregnant women and parents of infants with free services like health checkups, parenting tips, and breastfeeding help.
- What kinds of help does Healthy Start offer? — Pregnancy care, parenting tips and classes, breastfeeding support, in-home visits, connections to housing/food/medical care, mental health resources, and more.
- Do I have to pay for any of this? — No. All services are free.
- What about mental health support? — Healthy Start can connect families with counselors, support groups, and resources for postpartum depression, stress, and life with a new baby.
- Who do I call if I have a concern with my services? — The office provides a dedicated contact path on the About page.
Accreditations and Governance
Charlotte County Healthy Start Coalition, Inc. is registered as a 501(c)(3) public charity and is accredited by the Florida Department of Health (GuideStar records list consecutive accreditations from 2013 through 2018). The coalition is classified under NTEE code E60 (Health Support Services) and is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
- EIN: 65-0727055
- Fiscal year end: June
- Tax return type: Form 990
- Florida Department of Health accredited 2013–2018
- Eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (Pub 78)