Mission
Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of women, children and families by empowering individuals and communities to address medical, behavioral, cultural and social service needs.
About
Healthy Start is a federally-funded initiative to improve the health and well-being of women during their childbearing years (14-45 years old) in zip code areas 33701, 33705, 33711, 33712 and 33713. This area in Pinellas County was selected as the target area for implementation of Healthy Start due to the high infant mortality rate. Our goal is to work with women to address risk factors (pregnancy intervals, nutrition, substance/alcohol use, psychosocial concerns, family planning and other issues) that impact their health and may affect a future pregnancy.
Healthy Start at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital was implemented in 2014 to address an identified gap in the system of maternal and child health services directly linked to health disparities in infant mortality, pre- and inter-conception care.
The Project will focus its efforts on:
- Improving women's health before, during and after pregnancy
- Promoting quality services with a focus on required core competencies and standardized interventions
- Strengthening family resilience by engaging both parents and addressing some of the stress that underlies many disparities in birth outcomes
- Achieving collective impact serving as community hubs that drive collective improvements
- Increasing accountability through quality improvement, performance monitoring and evaluation
Additionally, Healthy Start will utilize a life course approach and serve as an important community entry point for women seeking both prenatal and well-woman care and family planning services. The Project will also focus on addressing social determinants and reproductive health capacity at the community-level, in addition to individual health and social risk factors.
Who We Serve
The target population for intensive case management provided by Healthy Start includes African American/Black women who are pregnant, interconceptional, fathers and infants age 0-2. The Project also provides parenting, breastfeeding, infant care and health education classes and events that are open to the community.
Specific priority groups include:
- Women who have had a previous poor birth outcome (fetal or infant loss, low birth weight baby)
- Women who had a child as a young teenager (<15 years old)
- Women of childbearing age (14-45) who do not have a regular source of health care
- Women with a history of mental health or psychosocial problems (partner or child abuse, depression, anxiety)
- Women with a history of high-risk behaviors
- Fathers/Men
For services or program information, please contact us at 727-767-6780.
Program Testimonials