Breastfeeding benefits to improve infant development & psychological health

Vivian Owen discusses the benefits of breastfeeding to improve infant developmental and psychological health and according to the American Association of Pediatrics, reduces the risk of premenopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

As a contracted provider, Vivian Owen serves as a Clinical Director for the Healthy Start Coalition of Miami-Dade (HSCMD), 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 at-risk population. 

In her role, Ms. Owen oversees both Miami-Dade County and Broward County Healthy Start programs with individual supervision on cases based on clinical needs as well case management and provide support and assist in crisis intervention for high risks pregnant and infants facing poor birth outcomes. She also supervises home visits, care coordination, and education based on the need of the program, and conducts Train the Trainer sessions upon request. The goal of Healthy Start is to reduce infant mortality, reduce the number of low birth weight babies and improve health and developmental outcomes. 

Vivian has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a master’s degree in social work from Florida International University as well as professional certifications in smoking cessation, breastfeeding education, inter-conceptional care,  parenting education, infant massage, childbirth education and is a Field Instructor for the master’s program at both Barry University and FIU. Ms. Owen has more than 23 years of professional experience working in the healthcare and social services industry.