The Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough Country organizes community-driven Child Watch events for the purpose of improving the health and well-being of Hillsborough county families.  The Child Watch Visitation Program is a public awareness and advocacy initiative of the Children's Defense Fund that moves legislators, business executives, clergy and other community leaders out of their offices and into the lives of children and families.  

This collaborative effort includes many local organizations such as Healthy Families; United Cerebral Palsy; Tampa General Hospital; St. Joseph's Women's Hospital; University Community Hospital; Children's Board of Hillsborough County; Tampa Children's Hospital; and The Chiles Center.  Our focus is in three primary areas:

Community Awareness: The Child Watch events show the faces and stories of real children in light of the statistics.  Attendees visit on-site programs that serve children and families, are provided with written background material, and receive briefings by public policy experts.

Community Education: In our fast-paced world it is difficult to access all of the important and useful information and support provided to families.  Child Watch will be offering free Lunch-n-Learn sessions to area employers on a variety of topics.

Inspiring action: We show participants that they can make a difference and inspire them to get involved.  By bringing leaders in our community together, we show them first hand the scope of the challenges of achieving and maintaining a healthy community for all our families.

If you are interested in participating or volunteering for a Child Watch event please complete our Get Involved form.