Comprehensive Health Start Program Improves Maternal and Infant Well being Through Community Collaboration

Enhancing the Health of Mothers and Their Families

Healthy Start is a comprehensive program med at improving health outcomes for mothers who are expecting or have recently given birth, as well as their partners and children under eighteen months. Our goal is to prevent infant mortality in communities where rates exceed 1.5 times the national average and reduce disparities among different racial and ethnic groups that impact rates of negative infant and maternal health outcomes.

By tloring care to each individual's unique needs, we m to ensure all members of our communities receive equitable access to quality healthcare services. We recognize that a crucial part of this process is identifying every client's specific health and social requirements through an interview conducted by one of our dedicated care coordinators.

A care coordinator plays the pivotal role in guiding and supporting participants throughout their journey, from pregnancy through postnatal care. The coordinator will work closely with each new client to understand her needs before developing a personalized plan that might include:

• Clinical services such as prenatal and postpartum care, and doula support.

• Mental health screenings for depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, followed by referrals to appropriate resources if necessary.

• Support in setting and achieving personal health goals through education on topics ranging from pregnancy and infant care to nutrition and fatherhood.

• Immunization education and referral services to ensure proper disease prevention.

• Screening for intimate partner violence IPV to safeguard families' safety and well-being.

• Assistance with linking participants to other essential community resources like transportation, housing, education, and income stability.

Community Partnership - Strengthening Through Collaboration

At the heart of every Healthy Start project is a Community Consortium, a diverse group comprised of program participants, local residents, fth leaders, Title V contributors, medical and social service providers, public health professionals, and more. This partnership empowers community members to drive improvements in their own health outcomes through informed policy-making and implementation.

By working together, projects can:

• Identify gaps in existing services.

• Develop culturally sensitive care plans that consider different languages and customs.

• Increase awareness about infant health issues.

• Address contributing factors like lack of stable income, reliable transportation, education opportunities, or adequate housing.

• Strengthen collaborations with other community stakeholders for a more holistic approach to care.

Healthy Start vs. Maternal, Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting Program

While both programs serve pregnant women and families, they differ in funding and implementation strategies:

Funding

Program

Focus on Partnerships and Data Sharing

We collect data directly from awardees and participants to monitor progress and evaluate project effectiveness. This includes the use of tools like CAREWare for Healthy Start database and the Healthy Start Monitoring and Evaluation Data System.

For more information about accessing this data, visit our dedicated resources such as the Healthy Start EPIC Center for trning and CAREWare platform for data management.

View our latest award announcements:

• 2024 Healthy Start Grant Awards

• 2023 Healthy Start Grant Awards

• 2022 Healthy Start Grant Awards for Community-based Doulas

• 2021 Healthy Start Grant Awards for Community-based Doulas

• 2020 Healthy Start Grant Awards to projects totaling 101 recipients

Stay tuned for more updates and detls on previous notices of funding opportunities.

Connect with us:

Eml Benita Baker, MS, Healthy Start Branch Chief at eml protected
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