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A child and family expert, author and Spanish language TV personality takes the reins of this 21-year-old organization that works every day to ensure infants get a healthy start in life

September 14, 2022—Jeannette Torres, MS, MHC has been named the CEO of Healthy Start Coalition of Miami-Dade that serves as part of a statewide network of community-based organizations aimed at reducing Florida’s poor birth outcomes (premature births, low birth weight, and infant mortality) and improve the lives of pregnant women, infants, and their families.

Jeannette Torres, MS, MHC

Her appointment follows a 19-year career in child and family services as well as years of experience serving with the founding CEO, Manuel “Manny” Fermin who passed away earlier this year. Due to her experience in the field of child and family services administration, Ms. Torres has had multiple leadership roles during the past 13 years progressing from Supervisor to Manager, Director to Chief of Staff and now CEO.

“We have witnessed Jinny’s hard work and dedication in her various leadership roles at HSCMD and recently, as the Interim CEO.  We, the Board of Directors, are confident that we appointed the best person for this vital position, and excited to see her lead the organization to its next phase of growth and evolution,” said Paul C. Hunt, President of the Board of Directors.

Born in Puerto Rico, Ms. Torres came to Miami in 1998. She is the author of the book, Ser Mama: Como encontar el balance… ¡sin perder la cabeza! Her newest addition, released in April 2019, offers support to mothers who just like her, are constantly performing a balancing act between home and work. Since 2008, Ms. Torres has authored the column “SER MAMA” published in People En Español. Ms. Torres was appointed as the official ambassador of television network Discovery Familia for three years.

Congruent with some of the objectives of HSCMD, Ms. Torres seeks to support and guide mothers to reach their maximum potential and increase the quality of life of their family. Therefore she has become an integral part, on television and in print, of numerous initiatives of interest to Latinas, from the upbringing of children to personal care, health, and empowerment.

Ms. Torres earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Florida International University and two years later earned a Master of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University, graduating with honors from both institutions.

 

About the Healthy Start Coalition of Miami-Dade

The Healthy Start Coalition of Miami-Dade (HSCMD) is a community-based non-profit organization designated and funded by the State of Florida Department of Health (FDOH) and the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to serve as Miami-Dade County’s prenatal and infant care coalition. HSCMD partners with local community-based organizations and healthcare professionals to plan, coordinate and provide high quality health and education services to women of childbearing age, children to age three and their families. For more information, visit www.hscmd.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and updates.