Today we’d like to introduce you to Dawn Liberta.
Hi Dawn, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Dawn Liberta, and I currently serve as the Executive Director for Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Broward County. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Florida Atlantic University (FAU). During my final semester, I completed an internship with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), where I worked closely with children in the foster care system. I enjoyed the work so much that I applied for and accepted a full-time position with DCF after graduation, continuing my commitment to supporting children and families.
When the State of Florida privatized the foster care system, I transitioned to ChildNet, the lead foster care agency in Broward County, where I served as a Supervisor. While at ChildNet, I earned my Master of Science in Management. I continued my career with ChildNet for 15 years, ultimately departing as an Assistant Vice President to return to DCF as the Community Development Administrator. After five years in that role, I was offered the opportunity to become the Executive Director at Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, a position I began in October 2023.
I was born in New York and moved to Broward County at the age of one, where I lived until 2003. I am married and have two sons, ages 24 and 19, and I currently reside in Wellington, Florida.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I have truly enjoyed my time here at HMHB and feel fortunate to work with an amazing group of individuals who are deeply dedicated to the families we serve. That said, like many organizations in the nonprofit sector, we face ongoing challenges—most of which are tied to funding. We are actively working to expand several of our programs to meet the growing needs of our community. However, in the current climate, many nonprofits are competing for the same limited funding sources. As a result, fewer organizations are receiving support, or the funding awarded is significantly reduced.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
HMHB is a 501(c)3, and were born 1987 Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Broward County was born due to the high rate of maternal and infant mortality in Broward County. HMHB serves our communities under resourced/underserved pregnant and post-partum women and families in Broward County. We currently have six programs within our organization,
Moms4Wellness- A program designed for at-risk Black/African American and Hispanic pregnant women to reduce gestational hypertension and diabetes. Services provided: Customized exercises and activities designed by a Certified Personal Trainer, Nutrition counseling and diet planning sessions delivered by a Certified Health Coach, Cooking Demonstrations, Health Education, Health Assessments, Referrals/ Care Coordination, and Doula Support
Healthy Families- is a nationally accredited family support and coaching program that helps parents provide the safe and stable environments children need for healthy growth and development. Parents voluntarily participate in services provided in their homes. Specially trained support workers help them improve their parenting skills and achieve goals that increase family stability and self-sufficiency.
The Mahogany Project- The Mahogany Project is a health education program targeting high-risk pregnant women. Mothers learn how to monitor and improve their health. They also learn how to care for and maintain the health of their baby through parenting education. Further, Mahogany clients gain knowledge needed to obtain additional resources from community support.
M-Power Program- is a program for women who are pregnant or have a child under the age of one living in Broward County. The M-Power program provides counseling, parenting education, case management services, and support groups to women who are experiencing depression, anxiety, difficulty bonding with the baby during pregnancy and postpartum, and childhood trauma.
Forget Me Not- The Forget Me Not program began in 1996 to honor the babies in Broward County who died before their first birthday. Tragically, more than 300 infants in our county lose their lives each year due to causes such as birth complications, prematurity, SIDS/SUID, unsafe sleep environments, or unforeseen accidents. Through Forget Me Not, HMHB of Broward supports these grieving families by offering bereavement support groups and financial assistance to help with burial costs during one of the most difficult times in their lives.
Emergency Basic Need- provides emergency financial services such as utility, transportation, or food assistance to help Broward County individuals and families in crisis meet their basic needs and receive navigation to other resources for long term stability.
I am proud that we are able to provide critical services to families in our community to help prevent loss. I am even more proud to share that our efforts are making a real impact, over the last five years, we have had zero infant and maternal deaths among the families we have served. The education and resources we provide contributes to our success in improving birth outcomes, that is what sets us apart from others and makes us unique.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I love to read. It helps me relax and unwind after a long day, allowing me to reset and be my best self the following day.
I’m also on a self-care journey right now. I just downloaded an app to help me with intermittent fasting, healthier eating, and getting more exercise. With how busy life gets, it’s been really helpful for tracking my water, my movement—pretty much everything. It’s still new to me, but I’ll let you know how it goes!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hmhbbroward.org
- Instagram: @hmhb_broward
- Facebook: Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Broward
- LinkedIn: Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Broward
- Twitter: @HMHB_Broward
- Youtube: HMHB Broward
Image Credits
Savanna Osei
Christina Feldman
