HEALTHY BEGINNINGS
HEALTHY BEGINNINGS
Healthy Beginnings is a program of the Elkhart County Health Department. The Health Department’s mission is to promote a healthy life and lifestyle by increasing the quality and years of healthy life and eliminating health disparities. This mission is carried out in association with the Indiana State Department of Health, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and other governmental and public health agencies.
It is within the context that Healthy Beginnings operates, focusing its own programming on the infants, young children and pregnant and/or breastfeeding women of our community. We serve all of Elkhart county with locations in Elkhart (head office), Goshen and our newest office in Nappanee.
OUR PROGRAMS
YEARS SERVING YOU
The Elkhart County Health Department began in 1949. The first staff included a part-time health commissioner, and public health nurses. Healthy Beginnings is pleased to have been serving our community since 1974.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES
Today the Elkhart County Health Department consists of over 100 people, including 70 full-time employees, working in five divisions. The Health Department offers services to all county residents with a vision of “Healthy Lives, Healthy Communities.”
SUPERVISORS
Melanie Sizemore
Melanie Sizemore serves in the capacity as the WIC and Maternal Child Health (MCH) Manager. Over the last 20 years of her career, she has worked with and for mothers, babies, and families. Her mission is to advocate for children through community service to assist with long-term success for children and families.
Marti Conrad
Marti Conrad has worked at Healthy Beginnings for almost 30 years! She considers it an honor to assist a pregnant mom during this very special time in their lives. Marti especially loves meeting the new little ones. Being here so long, she has also had the privilege of seeing some “second generation” moms.
Ruth Navarrete
Ruth has been working in the dental field for 15 years. She has been working with Healthy Beginnings since 2005. She enjoys working with the children and their parents. Ruth as well as her staff are dedicated to providing optimal oral health care and making Robbins Dental Clinic at Healthy Beginnings a great dental home for our patients.
Maria Navarro
Maria has been working for Elkhart County WIC since 2015. She enjoys helping kids and their parents find the help they require. She wants everyone to feel welcome when they come in to the office and strives to provide the best customer services possible.
Katherine Wright
Katherine Wright is dedicated to improve the health of the women, infants and children that participate in the WIC Program. She started her WIC career in 1986 and has worked in Elkhart County since 2007. Katherine is a Registered Dietitian and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.
Jessica Miller
Jessica Miller has been with the Elkhart County WIC Program for the past 10 years. With a background in nutrition, it directed her path to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. The WIC breastfeeding staff have a passion for supporting mothers and encouraging them to reach their personal breastfeeding goals.