Our Focus
Current Priorities
The Healthy Homes, Healthy Children Working Group is making sure all babies in our region are born healthy and stay healthy. The group wants every child and family to have access to important resources such as prenatal care, newborn home visitation programs and well-child medical screenings.
- Educate parents about infant safe sleep efforts so they can learn to put their babies safely to sleep. Learn more about Sleeptight Hampton Roads.
- Promote pregnant mothers and their young children’s health through home visits, oral health education and the utilization of the Nutrition Program for Woman, Infant and Child (WIC).
- Visit our Support for Parenting and Pregnant Families webpage to learn more about home visits
- Develop and maintain a regional Pathway through Pregnancy guide to help mothers deliver healthy babies.
- Develop and maintain a Mother & Baby Resource Guide 2025 for families being discharged after delivery (newly designed as of February 2025; Spanish version coming soon).
- Implement a Developmental Screening Initiative (ASQ-SE) in partnership with United Way SHR, to coordinate, align and improve screenings in the region.
- Promote Learn the Signs. Act Early! This program was designed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). From birth to 5 years, your child should reach milestones in how he plays, learns, speaks, acts and moves.
- Promote these Free Resources for families and the professionals supporting them. Track your child’s development and act early if you have a concern.
“Being a part of this workgroup of like-minded individuals passionate about making a difference for women, children, and families in our region has made me dream bigger. I believe our work will lead the way, providing a pathway for resources. I believe all families should be empowered to live healthier, thrive in their communities, and pass it on for generations to come. We have only just begun to see what is possible.”
Megan J. Buchholz, Clinical Transformation Manager,
Mid Atlantic Women’s Care
Working Group Members
Megan Buchholz, American Heart Association
Chanacy Butler, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, Loving Steps- VA Healthy Start Initiative
Angela Carney, Norfolk Dept of Human Services
Latrese Cowell, Portsmouth Department of Health
Sophie Jaffee, Welcoming Baby- Sentara Health
Tanika Jones, Norfolk WIC
Sylvia Gore, NSU, Zeta Phi Beta/ Stork's Nest
Matt Herman, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, The Brock Institute
Candice McDaniel, Urban Baby Beginnings
Keesha Knight McMillan, CHIP of SHR
Brandi Mezzapeso, VB Health Department
Lisa Milburn (co-chair), Sentara Obici Hospital
Keila Newell, Postpartum Virginia (Southeastern)
Trish O'Brien (co-chair), CHIP of SHR
Amy Paulson, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, CINCH
Lameisha Poole, The Virginia League for Planned Parenthood
Renatta Ramshawd, Norfolk Department of Health- WIC
Dr. Lindsay Robbins, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University OBGYN
Dr. Cynthia Romero (co-chair), EVMS Brock Institute
Courtney Seaborne, Sentara Health
Farah Silva, Fortify Children's Health
Phyllis Stoneburner, Healthy Chesapeake, Inc.
Nicole Taylor-Baptiste, Chesapeake Health Department
Emily Terifay, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University VA Health Science
Brittany Watson, Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative
Dr. Nancy Welch, Chesapeake Health Department
Barbara Willis, Hampton Roads Community Health Center
Denise Williams, Norfolk WIC
Contact Beth Parker for more information at ParkerEK@ODU.EDU