It was a powerful moment, watching almost two dozen children — clad in white graduation gowns and caps — totter to the podium, hand-in-hand with their mothers, to accept diplomas.

  • 1st time moms graduate from program to help young women
  • Moms accept diplomas alongside kids, wearing caps and gowns
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Twenty-one first-time mothers from the low-income neighborhood of Pine Hills graduated from Healthy Start Coalition of Orange County on Friday.

“You can see from today that every mom wants what’s best for their children," said Linda Sutherland, holding back tears. “They sort of form their own support groups. They bond with the other mothers, and a lot of them are in like positions.”

Sutherland, who helped coordinate the program for the women, said it was Healthy Start’s first Nurse-Family partnership graduation ceremony. The program proved transformative for the women enrolled.

“I think all single mothers need to stick together," said Jazmine King, who graduated from the program. “I was a single mother. When I got pregnant, I was a little devastated. I didn’t know what I was going to do.”

But King enrolled in the program, and thanks to weekly visits from helpful nurses, learned a slew of parenting skills.

“Breastfeeding, for sure. Learning when they need to use different bottles, different sippy cups," King said.

“I’ve learned certain cries, when they’re hungry, tired," said Sky Pagan, who also graduated. Pagan moved to Deltona but drove with her son, Antonio, to Orlando for training.

“You really don’t know what to do. You actually need to have experience. And the nurses are really good at helping you," Pagan said. “This has been one of the best things that has happened to me.”

A three-year grant from Heart of Florida United Way funded the program.

Meanwhile, Healthy Start Coalition wants to continue and is looking for funds to make that happen. For questions, contact Sutherland at 407-228-1478.