WellCare Donates $50,000 To Promote Infant Health And Safety Across Florida

TAMPA, Fla. - March 11, 2013 - PRLog -- TAMPA, Fla. — WellCare Health Plans, Inc.  today announced that it has donated $50,000 to the Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions to support its statewide Beds 4 Babies Project. This program provides education on safe sleep practices for infants and distributes portable cribs to eligible Florida families so babies have a safe place to sleep.
“We are proud to join Healthy Start in the effort to improve the health of pregnant women and babies throughout the state of Florida,” said Chrissie Cooper, president of WellCare's Florida and Hawaii Division. “We are confident that our collaboration will help raise awareness about health and give families access to valuable resources that may reduce the risk of accidental suffocation and infant death.”

WellCare has been partnering with local Healthy Start Coalitions in multiple Florida communities to sponsor health and education events for expecting mothers and families. These events offer parents the opportunity to connect with health care and service providers, obtain information about their own and their baby’s health, and receive useful gifts to help their families get a safe and healthy start in life. As part of a statewide initiative, WellCare will be engaged with the Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions to ensure that all 32 Healthy Start Coalitions across Florida have the support needed to continue their community events as well as further the efforts of the Beds 4 Babies Project.

“The fundamental goals of Healthy Start are to reduce infant mortality, reduce the number of low birth weight babies and improve health and developmental outcomes,” said Donna Hagan, president of the Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions. “WellCare’s gift is a pleasant surprise that will go a long way in helping us achieve our goals and helping families live safer, healthier lives.”

Healthy Start is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health of pregnant women and babies. Healthy Start Coalitions are partnerships made up of local public and private medical professionals, hospitals, schools, charities, social services agencies, the United Way, the March of Dimes and individuals. Coalition members work together to identify and resolve local health problems that affect pregnant women and their families. For more information about Healthy Start and programs offered in Florida, visit www.healthystartflorida.com.

About WellCare Health Plans, Inc.

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. provides managed care services targeted to government-sponsored health care programs, focusing on Medicaid and Medicare. Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare offers a variety of health plans for families, children, and the aged, blind, and disabled, as well as prescription drug plans. The company serves approximately 2.7 million members nationwide as of Dec. 31, 2012. For more information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at www.wellcare.com.