Legislation for the Future

Florida's Healthy Start initiative was signed into law on June 4, 1991. Healthy Start legislation provides for universal risk screening of all Florida's pregnant women and newborns to identify those at risk of poor birth, health and developmental outcomes. The screenings ensure early care is available to those families who could benefit the most from preventing or minimizing adverse birth outcomes.

Services Available

Healthy Start includes targeted support services that address identified risks. Some Healthy Start services available to pregnant women, infants and children up to age 3 include:

• Information and referral
• Comprehensive assessment of needs in light of family and community resources
• Ongoing care coordination and support to ensure access to needed services
• Psychosocial, nutritional and smoking cessation counseling
• Childbirth, breastfeeding and parenting support and education
• Home visiting