Escambia County Healthy Start Coalition

Healthy Start's History

Healthy Start was born in 1991 when the Governor and First Lady convened a group of community leaders and challenged them to build local coalitions to reduce Florida's alarmingly high infant mortality rate.
Healthy Start builds on Governor Chiles' experience as chairman of the National Commission to Prevent Infant Mortality and helps at- risk mothers receive the care they need for a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Governor Lawton Chiles believed every child deserved a healthy start in life and worked with communities to build strong local coalitions to provide high-quality prenatal care for mothers and health care for children.
 
Escambia County Healthy Start
Non-profit organization with volunteers from all segments of community to assure that key services are in place for pregnant women, infants, and their families.
More than 35 agencies.
More than 135 individuals.
Community Needs Assessment.
Resource Inventory.
Five-year plan with annual updates.

Florida’s Healthy Start Initiative
Goals
Reduce infant mortality and morbidity
Reduce low weight births
Enhance the health and development of children birth to age 3.
Activities
Community Plans
Prenatal screening
Infant screening
Care Coordination
Healthy Start Services
Risk appropriate care

Wrap Around Healthy Start Services
Breastfeeding education and support
Childbirth education and support
Nutrition counseling
Tobacco education and cessation counseling
Parenting education and support
Psychosocial counseling and support