2024 Spring Community Baby Shower
The Florida State University College of Medicine FSU Cares student organization hosted a baby shower for expecting mothers in Immokalee who are enrolled in the CARACOL Program. The event took place on Saturday, March 2nd, 2024, at the FSU Isabel Collier Read Medical Campus in Immokalee. Approximately 30 mothers attended. CARACOL is a program for mothers who have undergone adverse life experiences or traumatic events and whose children may be at risk for socio-emotional or other developmental delays or for behavioral disorders.
Figure 1 displays the percentage of expecting mothers enrolled in the CARACOL Program who have experienced adversity across three different categories: abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. Approximately 36% of mothers have experienced emotional abuse, 20% sexual abuse, and 17% physical abuse. As many as 34% have experienced some form of neglect in their lifetime; 33% have been exposed to domestic violence and 35% have lived in a household with someone who has a substance abuse problem.
The good news is that families enrolled in the CARACOL program will receive the support and services they need to build resilience. Mothers enrolled in the program receive counseling and support during pregnancy and their children receive close developmental surveillance and monitoring along with supportive services from birth through 4-years of age.
This community event was an opportunity to give expecting mothers a baby shower that they otherwise may not have the means to have. Additionally, during the baby shower mothers received education on topics like post-partum depression and were introduced to service agencies in their community that provide supportive services for expecting mothers and for young children.
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