First Lady Crissy Haslam Helps Launch the 3rd Chapter of First Ladies for Healthy Babies in Knoxville

A statewide initiative to create awareness for healthy early child development and parent practices, as well as mentorship opportunities for young parents

NASHVILLE – First Lady Crissy Haslam today met with women from the faith-based community at the Beck Cultural Exchange Center in Knoxville to help launch the Knoxville Chapter of First Ladies for Healthy Babies.

More than 150 First Ladies and leading ladies of churches in the Knoxville area attended the event to learn more about healthy early child development and parent practices, as well as mentorship opportunities for young parents in their community.

“First Ladies and leading ladies of churches are in a great position to raise awareness for the importance of healthy early development and ensuring that parents are their child’s first and most important teacher,” said Haslam. “Often these young parents go to leaders in the faith-based community as a trusted resource within their community.”
The FLHB Network was launched by the Neighborhood Christian Centers, Inc. in Memphis as a tool to connect women in the Memphis church community with young parents.  Last year, Haslam co-hosted an event with the Center, hoping to create a statewide network of First Ladies for Healthy Babies, with more than 175 churches represented from the greater Memphis area.  She hosted a similar event in Nashville at the Tennessee Residence in April, to continue to build this faith-based network.  

Today, the FLHB Network is a Chapter affiliation of women leaders in the faith-based community throughout the state whom are committed to serving the needs specific to Tennessee families in each local community.

“Communities can look very different throughout our state, but we know that healthy early development and strong families are important for every child in Tennessee,” said Haslam. “By focusing on fostering relationships between women in faith-based community and young parents, the FLHB Network can be relevant and impactful throughout the entire state.”

For more information about the First Ladies for Healthy Babies Network, visit http://www.tn.gov/firstlady/first-teachers.shtml.