At Sunshine Health, we are committed to helping mothers, babies and families thrive. We know that healthy pregnancies and safe births are the foundation for strong communities. That’s why we are proud to collaborate with the Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions through the GROW Doula initiative to expand access to this critical resource, and to share how both this partnership and our Project ECHO collaborative are making a meaningful impact across the state.
Project ECHO: Expanding Knowledge, Improving Care
Sunshine Health’s Maternal Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) serves as a regional hub, connecting healthcare providers to expert-led training and peer collaboration through the ECHO Model™. Each session features case-based learning, where participants discuss de-identified patient scenarios to explore best practices in maternal health.
Participation is free and open to clinicians at all levels, including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, psychiatrists, social workers, community health workers and pharmacists. Providers join virtually to gain and share best practices to improve care for mothers and babies across Florida. Once registered for a session, participants can revisit the session slides on the Project ECHO platform.
Our first session, Motivational Interviewing & Therapeutic Interventions, took place on April 24, 2025, with Dr. Heather Flynn of FL BH IMPACT
(Improving Maternal and Pediatric Access Care and Treatment) program. Twenty-four multidisciplinary participants explored strategies to address patient ambivalence and inspire behavioral change, focusing on reflection techniques, therapeutic approaches and telehealth resources.
The second session, Treating Depression in Pregnancy, took place on June 26, 2025, with Dr. Kay Roussos-Ross. Participants examined maternal mood disorders, which affect up to 20 percent of women, and reviewed screening tools such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), discussed SSRI safety and explored ways to reduce stigma.
“I had the pleasure of speaking on the panel for ECHO. Mental Health is a part of our care with all patients and sometimes it’s not discussed enough. I appreciate the opportunity I was given to share my experience; everyone made me feel very comfortable and we all learned a lot from each other. This is the kind of collaboration that improves patient care and outcomes.” – Shanice Baker, APRN at Florida Woman Care
Next, we’ll host Perinatal Anxiety & Bipolar Disorder on Thursday, August 28, 2025, from 1 to 2 p.m. ET. This session will cover prevalence, screening and care pathways, and effective treatment approaches equipping providers with practical tools to support mothers experiencing these conditions. Participants can sign up for the upcoming sessions by visiting https://www.sunshinehealth.com/echo#Sessions.
GROW Doula Partnership: More Support for Moms
Doulas play a vital role in providing physical, emotional, and informational support before, during, and after birth. Thanks to our valued partnership with the Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions through the GROW Doula initiative, we’ve trained 186 doulas to date, including 28 in 2025, with 70 more expected by year’s end. This initiative strengthens care for families and also opens new career pathways for women to grow and thrive within the healthcare system.
Watch How Doula Services Changed Our Member’s Prenatal and Postpartum Experience
Together with partners like Florida Healthy Start, we are building a future where every mother has access to quality care and every baby has the best possible start in life. Please reach out if you have ideas on how we can partner.