Healthy Start Coalition of Brevard Coalition

The Healthy Start program was established 1991 to improve birth and early childhood outcomes. Services are voluntary and are provided to pregnant women and infants. These services include but are not limited to education, social support and linkage to needed medical Care and community based services. The program is funded by the Florida department of Health, and the agency for healthcare administration, through the Healthy Start momcare network, to provide these services to all pregnant women and infants. Coordinated intake and referral contacts all women who are on medicaid and all women who complete a risk screen to identify needs of the family and to provide referrals to home visitation programs and other community resources. The Healthy Start program provides moms, newborns, and families with education, resources, and support through services in the home, hospital or other community settings, and oneonone phone calls. Pregnant women, infants, and the mothers of these infants receive services based on Prenatal and postnatal pathways that provide screening and intervention to families. Women receiving Healthy Start services receive interconception services to give themselves and their babies the best chance at a Healthy birth and life. Mothers and babies receive services through the first year of the Infant's life. During fy 20/21, 4,469 women and infants were screened for Healthy Start. During fy 20/21 a total of 6,306 pregnant women and infants received centralized intake and referral services yielding over 1,200 families accepting home visiting services.

The bonnie schuster memorial fund helps to provide for emergency needs to pregnant women or infants not currently available through the Healthy Start program or other social service agencies.