October is Safe Sleep Awareness Month and we're excited to be talking with Tonya Akwetey, Community Outreach Manager with Healthy Start Coalition of Polk, Highlands and Hardee Counties on the this important topic regarding safe sleep. Tonya breaks down the ABC's of Safe Sleep to help us understand how we can help babies reach their first birthday. Babies should sleep ALONE, on their BACK and in a CRIB!

Online Resources: 

Thanks to the funding by Florida Citrus Growers Grant and GiveWell Foundation, families can receive a brand new pack and play, 2 fitted sheets, swaddler and the book Safe and Snug. To learn more contact Nina Clark at 863-534-9224.

The new school year is almost here! Most parents in Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties agree that they want to learn more about how to prepare their children to be successful in school. 

On this episode of Let's Talk About It, Natalya Clemens, Heartland for Children's Community Engagement Specialist, and Tiffani Fritzsche, Children's Services Director with Peace River Center, talk about the importance of mental health for parents and children when it comes to going back to school! Listen in on this conversation for practical tips for parents, caregivers and children.

If you or someone you know is needed help, contact Peace River Center's Emotional Support & Crisis Line: 863-519-3744

Learn more about Peace River Center's services: peacerivercenter.org

Subscribe to our Let's Talk About It Podcast: heartlandforchildren.org/podcast

To learn more about Heartland for Children visit heartlandforchildren.org.

We're excited to have Sandi Denmark, Dependency Trainer with Children's Home Society on the show to talk about Reunification! Sandi has a wealth of knowledge and insight into this important topic and even shares how we as a community can wrap our arms around families in crisis to help them get on their feet and be reunited. 

Did you know that May is #WaterSafetyMonth? Water safety is a very important topic for those living in Florida because we are surrounded by water - both inside and outside our home. For this episode we interviewed Taylor Freeman, the Public Health Planning Manager for the Florida Department of Health in Polk County!

To learn more, check out the resources below:

Welcome to our first episode of Heartland for Children's Let's Talk About It Podcast! In honor of May being National Foster Care Month, we have Susan Ripley, HFC's Director of Foster Home Licensing to share about what is foster care, why foster care is important and unveiling the common myths.

Check out Daniel's Reunification Story: https://youtu.be/7N6Yr3tSZjM

To learn more about foster care, visit heartlandforchildren.org or call 863-519-8900 x 289.