Healthy Start Program

The Healthy Start Program started in 1991 to reduce Florida's alarmingly high infant mortality rate. Florida law mandates that community-based Healthy Start coalitions oversee the maternal and infant healthcare services in their communities.

In 2001, UF Health Jacksonville partnered with the Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition to institute this unique hospital, clinic, and home-based program.

This program has received recognition from the Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition, Jacksonville Community Council Inc., and other local agencies to help reduce the infant mortality rate in the city.

Core services include:

• Prenatal and parenting education and support
• Health and development screenings
• Interconception education and reproductive life planning
• Stress management
• Smoking cessation
• One-on-one care coordination
• Community referrals

Additional services offered:

• Psychosocial counseling for drug abuse, domestic violence, and abuse
• Stress and anger management
• Smoking cessation
• Assistance with Medicaid enrollment
• Initial entry into prenatal care and assisting mothers to find a pediatricians for their babies
• Daddy Boot Camp - dads teaching new dads fatherhood responsibility