Program Participant Information
About
Since 1991, Healthy Start has worked to give every baby the best start in life. The program helps pregnant women, babies and their families with services that can help them have a healthy birth outcome (i.e., home visits, childbirth education/preparation, parenting education and support, nutrition counseling, smoking cessation and breastfeeding education).
Healthy Start is a free and voluntary program available to all women and services can continue for newborn babies through the age of three.
Click here to enroll in a home visiting program like Healthy Start through Community Connect.
Prenatal Care Providers & Hospitals – Why Screening is Important!
Florida Statute 383.14 requires that all pregnant women are offered the Florida Prenatal Screen at their first or consequent prenatal visit and the Florida Infant Risk Screen (postnatal) be offered to parents or guardians of all infants born in Florida before leaving the delivery facility.
Information on these screens helps families access an array of programs and services in the community through CONNECT. Support the families in your practice or facility by:
- Screening everyone
- Reviewing the information with clients
- Obtaining all required consents for sharing information
- Referring everyone to CONNECT if they are interested in receiving more information about services available in your community.
Services Provided
- Home Visiting – one-on-one support from a friendly advisor in your home or a convenient community location
- Prenatal Education & Support – understand changes to your body, and what to expect during labor and delivery
- Free Screening & Services – get screened for common problems pregnant women and new families often experience, and receive services if you need them
- Parenting Education & Support – get tips on taking care of your baby and learn more about how he grows and develops
- Care Coordination – get help with finding prenatal and pediatric care, access support groups and classes.
- Health and Well-Being – plan for future pregnancies by learning all the options, and connect to training, education, child care and other resources to help you and your family succeed.
Service Providers
Locally, the county health departments (Baker, Duval and Nassau); UF Health Jacksonville; Children’s Home Society; and Inspire to Rise receive funding to provide Healthy Start services.
Notice of Privacy Practices
Training Materials
Complaints & Grievances
If you are not satisfied with your treatment or the services provided, you have the right to submit a complaint or grievance. To submit a complaint or grievance about prenatal or postnatal Healthy Start services, please:
- Write a detailed description of why you were not satisfied with your treatment and/or the services provided and include your name and contact information.
- Send the complaint via email to CEO Faye Johnson at fjohnson@nefhsc.org or call 904.723.5422.