Camden Healthy Start

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Camden Healthy Start

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Camden Healthy Start is a program of the Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative. Far too many babies in Camden are dying.

We provide services and support to pregnant women and mothers with children up to 18 months old. Our city’s infant mortality rate is double that of the state and nation. This is completely unacceptable, and we know that many of these deaths can be prevented. Camden Healthy Start provides services and support to ensure every birth is a healthy birth. We reach out to pregnant women and new mothers to connect them with the health care and resources they need to nurture and care for their children. Our staff uses proven strategies to reduce preterm birth, low birthweight, birth defects and other key factors that cause many infant deaths. We also work to address the social and economic factors that negatively impact child health and development. Infant mortality is an important measure of a society’s health and success. We must work together to make sure all of our children get a healthy start.

10/31/2026

🎃👻 Happy Halloween from all of us at Camden Healthy Start.

🌐Remember - think safety first before sending out your children for trick or treating. Visit safekids.org/halloween for Halloween safety tips.

10/30/2026

🍂 🔙Sunday, November 1 marks the end of Daylight Saving Time.

⏰So, be sure to turn back your clocks one hour on Sunday at 2am, or before you go to bed on Saturday night.

🔋It's also a good time to put fresh batteries in your smoke detectors.

10/29/2026

👶 💤 Your baby's sleep environment matters. Creating a safe sleep space doesn't have to be complicated. It starts with a few simple habits.

During October’s observance of Safe Sleep & Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month, we share these important reminders for parents and caregivers:

☑️ Use a firm, flat sleep surface. Baby should sleep in a crib, bassinet or play yard with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet designed for that space.

☑️ Place baby on their back. Always place baby on their back for naps and nighttime sleep.

☑️ Keep the sleep space clear. Pillows, loose blankets, stuffed animals, crib bumpers and other soft or loose items should stay out of baby's sleep area.

☑️ Share a room, not a bed. Keeping baby's sleep space in your room can make it easier to monitor and feed your baby while maintaining a separate sleep surface.

☑️ Avoid overheating. Dress baby appropriately for the room and watch for signs that they may be too warm.

☑️ Keep the environment smoke free. Keep baby away from secondhand and thirdhand smoke, including smoke residue on clothing and surfaces.

Creating a safe sleep environment is one more way we can help give babies a healthy start.

10/27/2026

For the parent who already imagined their baby's future...

For the parent who chose a name, made plans, bought something special or simply dreamed about who their baby would become...

For the parent who had to say goodbye far sooner than they ever imagined...

We see you and we honor your grief 🫶

Pregnancy and infant loss can be incredibly painful. Whether you experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, newborn loss or the loss of your baby shortly after birth, your baby's life mattered.

And your relationship with your baby doesn't end because your baby is no longer here.

Grief may show up in ways you didn't expect. Some days may feel manageable, while others may bring the loss rushing back—especially around birthdays, holidays, pregnancy announcements, due dates or seeing other babies reach milestones.

There is no "right" way to grieve.

🤍 Give yourself permission to feel what you feel.
🤍 Talk about your baby if you want to.
🤍 Remember your baby in whatever way feels meaningful to you.
🤍 Lean on people who allow you to grieve without judgement.
🤍 Seek professional support if your grief feels overwhelming or difficult to carry alone.

And if someone you love experiences a loss, don't be afraid to remember their baby with them. Sometimes hearing their baby's name, receiving a simple "I'm thinking of you" or knowing that someone else remembers can mean more than you realize.

At Camden Healthy Start, we recognize that supporting healthy families also means supporting families through loss.

10/22/2026

👨‍👦 Co-parenting isn't about doing everything the same way.

It's about working together to give your child love, stability and support, even when you and the other parent don't always agree.

Try these tips to make co-parenting a little smoother:

✅ Communicate directly. Keep conversations focused on your child's needs, schedule, health, school and important decisions.

✅ Focus on the child, not the conflict. Disagreements between adults shouldn't become a burden your child has to carry.

✅ Create consistency when possible. Similar expectations around routines, bedtime, school and responsibilities can help children feel secure.

✅ Don't use your child as the messenger. Communicate with the other parent directly instead of asking your child to pass along information.

✅ Speak respectfully about the other parent. Children shouldn't feel like they have to choose sides or take responsibility for adult conflict.

✅ Make room for different parenting styles. You may not do everything the same way, and that doesn't automatically mean one parent is doing it "wrong".

✅ Be willing to repair. If communication gets heated or something goes wrong, take a step back, apologize when needed and try again.

Co-parenting doesn't have to be perfect to be healthy. Small moments of cooperation can make a big difference in how supported and secure your child feels.

Whether you're parenting together, parenting from separate homes or figuring out a new co-parenting relationship, your child benefits when the adults around them keep their well-being at the center.

10/22/2026

🤠It was a giddy-up good time for clients of The Cooperative's Camden Healthy Start program!

Our staff hosted 'My First Rodeo,' a cowgirl and cowboy-themed first birthday celebration for children enrolled in Camden Healthy Start.

Clients enjoyed rodeo-themed food, games, decorations, children's activities and community resources as we celebrated their babies' milestones.

We wish all these little cowgirls and cowboys a happy, healthy birthday!

Want to learn how Camden Healthy Start supports moms and babies, dads and partners, families and the community—from pregnancy through parenting, and your child’s first birthday?

🌐Check out our brand new Camden Healthy Start website for free services and real support, right here in Camden ➡️ https://camdenhealthystart.org.

10/20/2026

💜October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month💜

Abuse can take many forms, and it doesn't always leave a bruise. A relationship may be unhealthy or abusive when one person repeatedly tries to control, intimidate, isolate or threaten another person.

Warning signs may include:

🟣 Emotional abuse: insults, humiliation, threats, manipulation or making someone feel worthless
🟣 Physical abuse: hitting, pushing, choking, restraining or causing physical harm
🟣 Sexual abuse: pressuring, forcing or making someone feel unsafe when it comes to sexual activity
🟣 Financial abuse: controlling money, preventing someone from working or limiting access to resources
🟣 Digital abuse: monitoring someone’s phone, social media, messages or location without consent
🟣 Isolation: controlling who someone can see, where they go or who they can talk to

For pregnant and parenting families, safety is especially important. No one deserves to experience abuse, and abuse is never the victim's fault.

If you recognize these signs in your own relationship or are worried about someone you love, support is available. You do not have to figure everything out alone.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.

National Domestic Violence Hotline:

📞 Call: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

📱 Text: START to 88788

💬 Chat: Visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline online for 24/7 support

You deserve a relationship built on safety, respect, trust and freedom. Not fear.

10/15/2026

💕 Being a mom often means putting everyone else first, but your health deserves a place on that list, too. 💕

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we're reminding moms to make time for their health.

🩷 Know your body. Pay attention to changes in your breasts and talk to your healthcare provider if something feels different or concerning.

🩷Know your risk. Your personal and family health history can affect your breast cancer risk. Ask your healthcare provider what screening schedule is right for you.

🩷Keep your appointments. Routine healthcare visits and recommended breast cancer screenings can help detect problems early.

🩷Do not ignore changes. A new lump, ni**le changes, skin changes, unusual discharge or any other change that concerns you deserves a conversation with your healthcare provider.

Taking care of yourself is not selfish. Your children need you, and you deserve care, attention and support, too.

You matter beyond the roles you carry. Make yourself a priority.

🌐Click here for information about mobile cancer screenings in Camden ➡️ https://bit.ly/4ya1w6H.

10/15/2026

October 15th is Global Handwashing Day.

With cold and flu season right around the corner, it's important to wash your hands frequently!

👐🚰To learn more about this initiative, click on this link ➡️ https://bit.ly/2pjW409.

🌐For handwashing tips from our mascot, Rinsey Raccoon, check out this site ➡️ https://bit.ly/3TQijcV.

10/13/2026

Grief can change everything.

For families who have experienced the loss of a baby or loved one, there is no "right" way to grieve and no timeline for healing.

If someone you love is grieving:

💟 Be present. You don't have to fix their pain.
💟 Listen without judgement. Let them talk, cry or simply sit in silence.
💟 Acknowledge their loss. Saying their baby's name or remembering their loved one can mean so much.
💟 Offer specific support. Help with meals, errands, childcare or everyday responsibilities.
💟 Keep checking in. Support is important long after the funeral or initial loss.
💟 Give them space to grieve in their own way. Everyone's experience is different.

Most importantly, don't be afraid to say something because you're worried it won't be perfect. A simple "I'm here for you" can remind someone they don't have to carry their grief alone.

At Camden Healthy Start, we recognize that supporting healthy families also means supporting families through loss.

Sometimes, the greatest gift we can give a grieving family is simply to stay.

10/07/2026

The Cooperative's Project Embrace is taking its messaging to new heights!

Our Project Embrace/Maternal Wraparound staff is working to increase public awareness about the program and our offerings for pregnant people who struggle with substance use.

The campaign entails an outdoor billboard campaign consisting of 10 digital billboards positioned in Camden and Burlington Counties, and one static billboard on the Atlantic City Expressway in Atlantic City. The billboards received more than 300,000 impressions reaching more than 50,000 unique individuals.

We also partnered with Public Good News, which developed articles that have been shared on social media. Click on the links below to read the articles.

🌐'Breaking the Stigma: How Three Organizations Help Support Those Living with Addiction During Pregnancy' ➡️ https://bit.ly/4ivS0G2.

🌐Pregnant and Living with Substance Use Disorder? Here’s What Treatment Can Look Like' ➡️ https://bit.ly/4A6k2hz.

Our efforts are making a difference. We've enrolled new individuals in the program and outreach continues to others.

🌐Learn more about The Cooperative's Project Embrace program ➡️ https://www.thecooperative.org/projectembrace.

OUTFRONT Media USA Public Good News

10/07/2026

Whether you’re a new dad, want to be one in the future or stepping up as a father figure—this is for you.

Your health, your mindset and your presence make a difference in your family’s life–every single day.

The Cooperative's Camden Healthy Start program is supporting initiatives right here in Camden County that are all about helping fathers show up at their best—for themselves, their partners and their children.

From wellness, fitness, job training and real-life tools, there’s something here for you.

🗓️ Dad Hack Happy Hours offer monthly opportunities to tap in
👉 Check out the flyer and check out Hey Black Dads for more information and to get connected

Strong fathers build strong families. Let’s get to it.

10/06/2026

🦋From The Cooperative's Camden Healthy Start program—a special event for bereaved parents: 'Healing Through Nature.'

🗓️Saturday, October 17, 2026
🕰️12pm
📍The Garden of Hope, 1174 Empire Avenue, Camden, NJ 08104
🌐Click on this link to register ➡️ https://bit.ly/4y5dizg.

🌸In the midst of loss, we find comfort in our cherished memories.

🌼As you navigate your grief journey, we invite you to join us outdoors for Healing Through Nature. This initiative provides a peaceful space in the Camden community for families to reflect and honor their child’s memory. While in this space, we will be joined by Tikeena Sturdivant, Founder/CEO of The Purpose Ark, who will guide us through this remembrance ceremony

📱To learn more about the Healing Through Nature initiative and receive information about upcoming events and activities, please call 609-707-0025.

10/06/2026

The Cooperative is proud to team up with our colleagues at Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ, Central Jersey Family Health Consortium and the SIDS Center of New Jersey for an on-demand webinar entitled: 'Reducing the Risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death: A Guide for Healthcare Providers.'

🗓️Available now until no later than May 25, 2028 (on demand, at a time of your choosing)
🌐Click on this link to register ➡️ https://bit.ly/4e2W7p1.

This recorded, on-demand program is an opportunity for nurses and other health professionals who work with families to learn the updated safe sleep guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep- related infant deaths.

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:
✅Define Sudden Unexpected Infant Death
✅State the established risk factors
✅Describe the risk-reducing practices

10/05/2026

New Jersey's maternal and child health consortia present: 'Lost Hopes & Dreams: New Jersey's Perinatal Bereavement Training.'

This full-day training is designed to enhance the knowledge & skills of healthcare professionals who provide care and support to New Jersey families experiencing perinatal loss.

🗓️Thursday, October 8, 2026
🕰️8am-4:30pm
📍AtlantiCare Medical Arts Pavilion, 7 South Ohio Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
🌐Click on this link to register ➡️ https://bit.ly/4fkgRsU.

After attending this program, participants will be able to:
✅Define the five types of perinatal loss
✅Implement communication skills with parents and family members
✅Explain the ethical dilemmas that can occur in infant losses in the NICU
✅Explain best practice for supporting families with pregnancy after loss
✅Summarize the documentation required for final disposition
✅Describe the steps of memory making for families
✅Develop tools for staff and parent follow-up
✅State the essential components of discharge education

Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ Central Jersey Family Health Consortium

10/05/2026

The Cooperative joins in celebrating National Midwifery Week, observed this year from October 4-10.

National Midwifery Week was created by American College of Nurse Midwives to celebrate and recognize midwives and midwife-led care.

Midwifery care, backed by rigorous scientific evidence, improves birth outcomes and enhances patient experiences. As a profession rooted in history, midwifery is vital for the future of healthcare, with proven success in reducing maternal and newborn mortality, even in resource-limited areas.

10/04/2026

💜October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

💜 Domestic violence occurs when an individual commits acts intended to harm or instill fear in another when a special relationship is present. This special relationship can involve current or former intimate partners, or household members. The abuse is not only physical, but can be verbal, and may include sexual assault, threats, financial control and/or isolation.

💜 Domestic violence is nationally recognized as a public health issue and causes serious health-related consequences. Victims and survivors may experience physical injuries like broken bones or head trauma and endure long term effects due to chronic stress and anxiety.

💜 Help IS available. For resources, check out this site from the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence ➡️ https://bit.ly/46xYn4v.

10/03/2026

🦋The Cooperative's Three Little Birds Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support and Postpartum Wellness Initiative for South Jersey programs present: 'Pregnancy & Infant Loss Virtual Support Group.'

🗓️Wednesday, October 7, 2026
🕰️6pm-7pm
💻Virtual—to access the meeting information, email [email protected].

This group is intended for families experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal loss in the Southern New Jersey region to explore their grief, make meaningful connections with others on similar family building journeys and find creative ways to honor their baby's legacy.

Perinatal loss families and their loved ones are welcome to join. There is never any pressure to share or participate. Sometimes, we can find support by simply listening. You are not alone.

10/03/2026

🚼 💤 October is Safe Sleep & Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month.

🚼 💤We want to pass along important guidance for anyone and everyone who cares for a baby, to ensure a safe sleep.

🚼 💤 Click on this link for safe sleep recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics ➡️ https://bit.ly/3wNsRyn.

🚼 💤 To download the FREE Safe Sleep App from the SIDS Center of New Jersey, click on this link ➡️ https://bit.ly/3BxaPVQ.

Address

808 Market Street, 3rd Floor
Camden, NJ
08102

Telephone

+18569631013

Website

http://camdenhealthystart.org/

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