Healthy Start - Prenatal Program

The goal of Healthy Start is to reduce infant mortality, reduce the number of low-birth-weight babies, and improve health and developmental outcomes. The intent of the Healthy Start initiative is to assure all pregnant women in Florida have access to prenatal health care and services necessary to reduce risk for poor outcomes. Most pregnant women have normal risk and need for prenatal care services; however, others may need support and services tailored to reduce risk factors.

Once in a system of health care, pregnant women are to receive screening for risk factors that make them more likely to experience preterm delivery or delivery of a low birth weight baby, or infant mortality, respectively. Offering Healthy Start risk screening to all pregnant women is required by Florida Statute and serves to direct those most at risk into the care coordination system for additional intervention.

Once the Healthy Start participant is opened to care coordination, the provider will use professional judgment and assessment skills in collaboration with the participant/family to determine the level of services needed.