Latisha Thomas McLeod, Data & Evaluation Manager

For Latisha Thomas McLeod, Data & Evaluation Manager, Healthy Start intersects her passion for education and maternal healthcare outcome improvement. She excitedly joined the Healthy Start family in August 2023 bringing 15+ years of experience in data collection & analysis, research, and program evaluation.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Latisha graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelor's degree in Social Science. Prior to joining Healthy Start, Latisha was Associate Director of Organizational Learning & Analytics for New Leaders Inc., and Data Analyst for Broward County Public Schools. In NYC, she used her analytical support skills to improve performance, quality, and process improvement efforts in hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory sites, and community-based healthcare organizations across New York, Maryland, and Florida.

Latisha understands firsthand the importance of mothers to receive high-quality prenatal care. Less than two weeks after joining Healthy Start, she was admitted to the hospital at 36 weeks 4 days gestation with HELLP syndrome – a life-threatening rare pregnancy complication that is only known to be reversed via c-section. Though her baby girl was delivered perfectly healthy, Latisha suffered several complications from the emergency c-section and was hospitalized for 38 days. During that time, Healthy Start provided her and her family with various support such as resources, tools, and guidance to get her back home.

Latisha and her family relocated to the Treasure Coast in 2017. She has been married to her high school sweetheart since 2010 and they have two beautiful daughters. When not doing the work to support and improve the health of mothers and babies, Latisha enjoys food indulgences, family movie nights, relaxation, and – when time rarely allows it – leisurely reading.

Michelle Jackson, Client Services Specialist

Joining Healthy Start in February 2024 as our Client Services Specialist, simply made a lot of sense for Michelle Jackson, as she is passionate about helping mothers and families as one of our Bilingual Community Doulas and advocating for mental health, maternal health, and racial and cultural issues. 

Her passion to serve families was born from her own struggles during the prenatal and postpartum periods of her three pregnancies. Although she had experienced this disease in her previous two pregnancies, in 2014, while pregnant with their youngest child, Michelle experienced a severe form of a potentially life threatening pregnancy disease called Hyperemesis Gravidarum, which caused her to lose a total of 25lbs requiring urgent medical attention due to severe dehydration and malnutrition. After giving birth, she went on to experience severe postpartum depression and anxiety, also known as PMADS.

After a long journey of recovery, Michelle realized just how vulnerable mothers and families are when they’re not adequately supported during their prenatal, birth, and postpartum periods, and she vowed to grow through her experiences and use them to help other mothers. Like the mythological Phoenix, she used the ashes of her prenatal and postpartum struggles to bring new purpose to her life, which resulted in her inspiration to become a Birth and Postpartum Doula. In April 2023, she joined Martin County Healthy Start’s second doula class and received her Birth Doula certification from the G.R.O.W. Doula Program. A few months later, she went on to receive her Postpartum Doula certification from The Midwifery Institute and began her dream of helping mothers as a Holistic Doula through what she considers to be “the most critical and transformational moment of a woman’s life.”

Born and raised in the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, Michelle joins us with a background in Technical Writing with over 12 years of experience managing Systems Development and Document Development Life Cycles in Aviation, Customer Service, Call Center Management, and Government Health Services industries. She is also certified as a Prenatal Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master, Holistic Herbalist and is currently working towards her Mindfulness Meditation certification.

Michelle lives in Port Saint Lucie with her husband, CJ, and is the proud mom of their 5 children, 3 cats, and 1 dog. When she’s not immersed in the birth world or helping our families at the Betty Moore Pregnancy Outreach Center, she enjoys her free time with her family out in nature, deepening her faith, cooking, gardening, and reading. 

Sellian Cruz, Intake Specialist

Sellian is new to her Intake Specialist role, but not new to Healthy Start! Sellian transferred from her Client Services Specialist position to her Intake Specialist position, and is working directly with new moms and their babies.

Sellian Cruz joined Martin County Healthy Start Coalition, Inc. in late June 2022. Being a South Florida native, Sellian is thrilled to find a new chapter of work servicing families on the Treasure Coast.



Being a servant and of service takes passion, dedication, and commitment, which are some of the values Sellian holds close. She is passionate about working with families of Martin County by assisting with their needs. She believes connecting families with resources is essential for building healthy families. Also, being a mother, she considers "community" vital when raising children. Being a part of the Healthy Start organization and seeing the heart it has for families is why she accepted to join the team.

Idalia Lazo, Intake Specialist

Idalia joined Martin County Healthy Start Coalition after enrolling in one of its home visitation programs, Nurse Family Partnership. As a first-time expecting mother, she found the education and support from the program vital for a healthy and happy pregnancy. The guidance she receives from her nurse has prepared her for the most important stage in her life, motherhood. In a few weeks, she and her partner will welcome their son with the help of a Healthy Start doula.

Prior to Healthy Start, Idalia worked in the non-profit sector building community programs that foster economic and professional development. She brings over 15 years of experience working with diverse communities across the country. She received her Bachelor's degree in Cultural Anthropology and Mexican-American Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Master's in Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University. 

Born in a Zapotec community in Mexico, and raised in the multicultural metropolis of Los Angeles, Idalia learned to navigate in between different cultures, languages, and practices. She believes in building healthy communities through access and equity to services. Idalia is looking forward to connecting expecting and new mothers to programs/services in the Treasure Coast community.