From Concern to Collaboration: How Okeechobee Came Together to Protect Maternal Care

Last summer, Okeechobee faced a critical moment for maternal health. With no hospital delivering babies in the county and families already traveling 35–45 miles for delivery care, news that the community’s only prenatal provider could potentially reduce or merge services raised serious concerns. For the Okeechobee Healthy Start Coalition, whose mission is to ensure local families have access to the care and support they need, the moment called for action. In response, Healthy Start convened a Maternal Care Task Force bringing together healthcare providers, local government, public safety leaders, and state partners to collaborate on solutions.

"The challenges facing rural maternal health are real, but I also know the strength of our community. When a community comes together with purpose and compassion, real

change becomes possible. This Task Force is only the beginning of building a stronger,

healthier future for mothers and babies in Okeechobee,” said the Director of Okeechobee Healthy Start, Andrea Medellin.

We spoke with her about why the Task Force was formed, who is involved, and what

Progress has already been made toward strengthening maternal health access in the

community:

1. What is the main purpose of the Task Force, and what service organizations and government offices are represented among its participants?

Medellin: The Maternal Care Task Force was created last fall in response to a very real

threat our community faced: the potential loss or reduction of services from our only

prenatal provider. Okeechobee already has no hospital delivering babies, which means

families must drive 35–45 miles for delivery care. Losing local prenatal services would

have officially made our community a maternal health desert. As the leading maternal

and child health advocates in our rural region, Healthy Start felt it was our responsibility to bring partners together and advocate on behalf of local families. The Task Force now includes, but is not limited to: healthcare providers, the County Health Department, Florida Community Health Centers, the Mayor and City Council, Sheriff’s Office, Fire Rescue, home visiting programs, doulas, surrounding Healthy Start coalitions, Florida Representative Kaylee Tuck, and statewide health organizations.

2. How does this convergence of community leaders and service providers

signify an important step toward long-term solutions for systemic issues

impacting access to maternal care in the Okeechobee community?

Medellin: In rural communities like Okeechobee, the barriers to maternal care are

complex and interconnected. Transportation, provider shortages, geographic distance,

and limited healthcare infrastructure all contribute to the challenges families face.

Bringing together leaders from healthcare, government, emergency services,

community programs, and state leadership allows us to look at these issues from every

angle. Instead of working in silos, the Task Force creates a space where partners can

align resources, share data, and identify sustainable solutions together. This type of

collaboration is essential for long-term systems change and ensures that solutions are

informed by the realities families experience in our community.

3. What are the goals for the Task Force, and what have been some of the initial findings or steps taken toward action?

Medellin: The Task Force is focused on both immediate solutions and long-term

strategies to strengthen maternal health access in Okeechobee. Early discussions

explored options such as expanding prenatal clinic days, mobile healthcare services,

telehealth partnerships, transportation solutions, and medical university collaborations

to strengthen provider capacity. One immediate success was supporting Florida

Community Health Centers are expanding prenatal availability from one day per week to two days. The group also identified transportation as a major barrier for families

traveling to appointments locally and out of the county for specialty care. As a result,

Healthy Start has begun pursuing grant funding to pilot a maternal transportation

program while continuing to build partnerships that support sustainable improvements in rural maternal health access.

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The work of Okeechobee’s Maternal Care Task Force is just beginning, but the

momentum already built demonstrates what is possible when a community comes

together around a shared purpose. By aligning healthcare providers, public officials,

service organizations, and state leaders, Okeechobee is taking meaningful steps toward protecting and strengthening maternal health access for the future. While challenges remain, the collaboration sparked by this effort reflects a powerful commitment: ensuring that every mother and baby in Okeechobee has the opportunity to receive the care they deserve, close to home.