First 1,000 Days Suncoast

First 1,000 Days Suncoast is a tri-county initiative in southwest Florida comprised of 90 partner organizations and parents working collaboratively to improve the health and well-being of babies and families in Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties. Following the Collective Impact model, the region’s public community hospital was designated as the backbone organization, with a nurse-led team guiding the operations. A steering committee, with leaders of regional nonprofits and foundations, ensures tactical alignment with county priorities, and has been key in building a strong partner infrastructure. Three key components guide the activities of the initiative: care coordination; parent empowerment; and targeted interventions. Through collaboration with community professionals and parents, the initiative identifies the most pervasive barriers to care for families and develops innovative solutions. This method has led to system-wide transformations, organization-specific enhancements, and process improvements.