Hailey Heseltine
ECB Publishing, Inc.
For those starting a family in Jefferson County, the Florida Department of Health – Jefferson (DOH – Jefferson) offers resources to help your family get a healthy start.
According to the Florida DOH, “Healthy Start is a free home visiting program that provides education and care coordination to pregnant women and families of children under the age of three. The goal of the program is to lower risk factors associated with preterm birth, low birth weight, infant mortality and poor developmental outcomes.” Per DOH – Jefferson's website, any pregnant woman living in Florida and any child 0-3 years old are eligible for enrollment. Enrollment is free, voluntary and not income-based.
The program offers prenatal and parenting education, emotional support and counseling, baby safety and care education, breastfeeding education, support and resources, depression screenings and referrals for mental health, developmental screenings, community resource information, smoking cessation education/referrals, stress management education, and care coordination to help families learn about other resources available in the community, as well as assistance in accessing those services. Participants are also eligible to receive referrals for additional services. The program is intended to reduce infant mortality, reduce the number of low-birth-weight babies and improve health and developmental outcomes in children. So, how does it work?
Cumi Allen, health services manager at DOH – Jefferson, says, “Participants who actively engage in the services can receive, free of cost, important items such as car seats, diapers, safe sleeping arrangements, and age-appropriate toys, all aimed at fostering a safe and nurturing environment for infants/toddlers ... for those interested in joining the Healthy Start Program, the enrollment process is straightforward: All pregnant women should receive an Infant Prenatal Screening from their OB provider; babies are screened shortly after birth to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria for the program and while there is a scoring system for assessment, self-referrals are also welcomed, ensuring that all interested families can access the program. The Healthy Start Program stands as a vital resource for mothers and infants, fostering healthier communities through education, support and essential resources.”
To learn more about the Healthy Start program, visit jefferson.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/wellness-programs/healthy-start/ or call 850-427-4009.