2024 – 2025
Investing in Healthy Start: A Lifeline for Florida Families
Healthy Start is a critical support system for Florida families. Families receiving full intervention with home visiting services experience 35% fewer premature births and 42% lower infant mortality, leading to better health outcomes for both mothers and babies. The Connect program has linked 295,000 families to essential services they need, while the Healthy Start Doula program has trained and certified 115 doulas who help reduce C-section rates by 50% and low birth weight by 72%.
2022 – 2024
Working to Increase Service Delivery for Florida Families
Healthy Start funding for non-Medicaid eligible families hasn’t been increased for more than 17 years, even though the cost of providing services has increased 51% and only continues to increase. Thanks to the Florida Legislature, The Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions has been awarded an additional $9.5 million for DOH-funded services fornon-Medicaid families and program support!
2021 – 2022
Addressing the Critical Need for More Fatherhood Programs in Florida
Children who grow up without supportive fathers are more likely to be at risk for poverty, health problems, and other lifelong issues. Since 2023, the Florida Legislature has invested in Healthy Start’s TEAM Dad program to provide parenting resources to help fathers and children succeed.
Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Program (FIMR)
Infant mortality is defined as the death of an infant during the first year of life. Thanks to the Florida Legislature’s support, we have funding for the Fetal Infant and Mortality Review Program (FIMR) dedicated to determining and preventing the cause of these deaths.
Improving Outcomes for Mothers and Babies: Infant Mortality in Florida
Infant mortality is the death of an infant during the first year of life, and is an effective way to measure the health and well-being of a community. To reduce the infant mortality rate and improve the health of mothers, Florida Healthy Start offers a variety of services and funding.
2020 – 2021
Investing in a Healthy Start for Florida’s Children
In a tight budget year, it is vital to remember that the highest rate of return on investment is during the earliest years (ages 0-3), proving that it is critical to ensure that every baby has a chance at a Healthy Start.
Perinatal Depression
Pregnant women with depression are more likely to give birth prematurely and deliver a low birth-weight baby than non-depressed women. Children of depressed mothers are also at higher risk of experiencing developmental delays at 18 months and physical health problems in early childhood, resulting in later social and emotional problems during adolescence and adulthood.
Maternal Mortality
Around 700 women die each year in the United States due to pregnancy or delivery complications. The maternal mortality rate has increased from 2002 to 2018. Black mothers in Florida are 2-3x more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white mothers.
Substance Use Disorder
An estimated five percent of women — or more than 11,000 in Florida — use one or more addictive substances during pregnancy. Smoking tobacco or marijuana, taking prescription pain relievers, or using illegal drugs during pregnancy is associated with poor birth outcomes, including death.
Enhancing Medicaid Benefits 12 Months Postpartum
Most fetal and infant deaths are due to the health of the mother before she gets pregnant. Currently, women in Florida who qualify for Medicaid due to pregnancy lose their coverage 60 days after their pregnancy ends, leaving them uninsured until their next pregnancy and unable to address ongoing health issues such as high blood pressure. While current coverage allows for a postpartum visit (usually at six weeks), many pregnancy-related complications happen later on.
Give Your Family the Best Support Possible.
Find your nearest Florida Healthy Start to get connected with pregnancy & parenting services.