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Building Healthier Communities: Jaeann Ashton on Mental Health, Pregnancy and Childbirth Care & Community Engagement
Season 9 · Episode 225

Building Healthier Communities: Jaeann Ashton on Mental Health, Pregnancy and Childbirth Care & Community Engagement

Jaeann Ashton, Executive Director of Community Engagement for AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division, joins us to share how strategic partnerships and proactive programs are transforming community health. From addressing mental health access to maternal and fetal health and social determinants like housing and food security, Jaeann reveals how AdventHealth is meeting needs at every level. This inspiring conversation highlights the power of collaboration, innovation, and mission-driven leadership to make communities stronger and healthier.

She Believed She Could™ Podcast · Jaeann Ashton, Allison Walsh

September 9, 202527m 20s

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Show Notes

In this powerful episode of She Believed She Could, host Allison Walsh welcomes Jaeann Ashton, Executive Director of Community Engagement for AdventHealth Central Florida. With 20 years of experience across healthcare, education, media, and nonprofit sectors, Jaeann leads efforts to connect with community partners and create sustainable programs that improve whole-person health.

Together, they discuss the findings from AdventHealth’s latest Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and the three major priorities for the coming years:

  • Mental health access for children, families, and underserved populations.
  • Pregnancy and childbrith care, including expanded prenatal education, care navigation, and postpartum support.
  • Social determinants of health like transportation, housing, and food security, where AdventHealth partners with 200+ nonprofits annually.

Listeners will also hear about innovative initiatives such as the Be A Mindleader campaign, youth-focused mental health access, free prenatal classes, community baby showers, and hands-on workforce development programs like Cristo Rey Orlando. This conversation is packed with lessons on community leadership, strategic partnerships, and how healthcare organizations can go beyond clinical care to truly transform lives.

🌟 Memorable Moments

  • On the importance of CHNA: “Every three years, we ask our community what they need—by zip code—so we can build a plan that actually moves the needle.”
  • On mental health access: “We built an urgent care model for kids in crisis because the ER isn’t where they belong.”
  • On maternal care: “We’ve made all of our prenatal education classes free because access to education changes outcomes for moms and babies.”
  • On community partnerships: “We don’t just write checks—we serve on boards, volunteer, and solve real problems alongside nonprofits.”
  • On leadership and family: “I love bringing my kids into this work. I want them to grow up knowing the importance of giving back.”

🌟 About Jaenne Ashton:

Jaeann Ashton is a strategic community and marketing leader with 20 years of experience spanning the healthcare, media, transportation, and education industries.  

She is the Executive Director of Community Engagement for AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division, connecting with local nonprofit organizations and community leaders to improve the health of our community.  She loves building meaningful relationships and creating new programs and partnerships that help our community feel whole.  

Jaeann graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in advertising and public relations and a master’s degree in communication.  

Jaeann resides in College Park with her husband and two young children who keep her busy with all their school and extracurricular activities, but she wouldn’t have it any other way!

 

📌 Resources & Links

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Topics

social determinants of healthmaternal healthhealth equitynonprofit partnershipsfetal healthhealthcare leadershipcentral florida healthcareyouth mental healthadventhealthhealthcare innovationprenatal carejaeann ashtoncommunity impactwhole-person healthcommunity engagementcommunity healthbe a mindleader campaignwomen’s healthmental health resourcesorlando healthcare
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