Studer Community Institute

Moms in Century welcome Healthy Start office

November 20, 2014
/ Mollye Barrows
/ training-development

Caroline Pugh knows what it’s like to be a single mom in Century. She moved to the small town two years ago to help her sister, also a single mom. Between them, they have four young children and Pugh, 26, watches them to save on childcare. “I like Century. I like the down-home atmosphere. I like the church here. I like the school that my baby goes to. I pretty much like everything about it now except for the lack of some resources,” said Pugh. Most of the people living at or below the poverty line in Century are single moms with children under the age of 5. The Escambia Health Department and WIC, the Federal Supplemental Nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children, closed their offices there, and many parents have a hard time getting back and forth to Pensacola or Molino to get help. “I see a lot of people pregnant, walking with their kids, even walking with their babies who are just a couple of days old, just to get to the ECAT to get to Pensacola or to get to one of their family members’ house to watch their children while they take care of business for their kids,” said Pugh. Now the Escambia County Healthy Start Coalition is opening an office in Century. It’s on Church Street, at the site of the old post office and former WIC office, that closed two years ago. The agency is leasing the building for a $1 a year for the next three years. The nonprofit aims to improve healthy outcomes for pregnant and nursing moms and their babies. They provide and arrange services, including some medical services, nutrition referrals, childbirth and parenting education, and smoking cessation. “We know it’s neglected. We know what the problems are up there,” said Theresa Chmiel, executive director of the Escambia Healthy Start Coalition. “That’s spot-on the population we serve.” Concerned citizen Laura Nelson helped put the plan in motion. She heard Escambia Commissioner Steven Barry recently made the offer that if a local nonprofit or church has something to offer the community, he would provide the space. “Because of the women I minister to up here I knew there would be a need for something like Healthy Start,” said Nelson. “I said Theresa I have a building up here and that’s how it started.” Chmiel says they’ll open their doors in February or March and their goal is to have services five days a week. “We have partnerships with WIC, all the hospitals, and pediatric communities. This is what we need to do.” said Chmiel. “The timing is right and we have a willingness to see it as an opportunity and not a problem that can’t be overcome.” Pugh says opening the Healthy Start office in Century will help mothers and children with their health and improve the quality of life in Century. “I am so excited,” said Pugh. “This will be so much easier than going to Pensacola.” Photo image credit: Caroline Pugh stands with Khyri Schealy,1, Makaylah Richmond,2, Kamari Schealy,3, and Makenzie Richmond,4, at the future site of the Escambia Healthy Start Coalition office on Church St. in Century, Fla., Wednesday, November 19, 2014. The building was the former WIC office. Pugh helps take care of her sisters children while looking for work. (Michael Spooneybarger/ Pensacola Today)

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Moms in Century welcome Healthy Start office

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