In Florida
FL Healthy Start program includes universal screening of pregnant women and infants, identification of risk factors for poor birth and developmental outcomes, and has provided needed services since 1991. Healthy Start Coalitions strive to develop and implement quality systems of care unique to the communities they serve.
FL Healthy Start offers:
- Care Coordination and Outreach
- Breastfeeding and Childbirth Education
- Parenting Education and Support
- Smoking Cessation Assistance
- Nutritional Services and Counseling
- Psychosocial Counseling
- Home Visits
Impact of FL Healthy Start:
Florida has seen a 35% decrease in infant mortality rate since 1991 due in part to the resources and services provided by Healthy Start. It leads with low rates in south-eastern states
In a typical year, Healthy Start provided support for nearly 80,000 at risk pregnant women and more than 56,000 at-risk infants and helped connect them with community resources throughout Florida.
To learn more about FL Healthy Start, please visit the following sites:
- Healthy Start | Florida Department of Health
- Agency for Healthcare Administration
- FL Association of Healthy Start Coalitions (FAHSC) Site (click here)
In Palm Beach County
The Healthy Start Coalition of Palm Beach County Inc. also known as the Healthy Beginnings Coalition was created to provide a cohesive system of care in the county. Healthy Beginnings seeks to improve birth outcomes by providing access to direct health and social services for pregnant women whose chances of having a healthy baby are hampered by such risk factors as poverty, limited access to health care, poor nutrition, age, substance abuse, homelessness, domestic violence and more. The system also seeks to reach young children exhibiting developmental or behavioral issues that could hamper later school success. Through early intervention, many such issues can be dealt with prior to the child entering the formal school setting, thus improving opportunities for school success. To streamline services for families, Healthy Start requires Coordinated, Intake, and Referral and in Palm Beach County, we refer to this as our Entry Agencies as listed below.
Healthy Start services are provided by Palm Beach County’s Department of Health programs: Nurses Supporting Families, Prenatal Plus, and Women’s Health Initiative: Click here to learn more about the Healthy Beginnings System of Care
For additional information, please contact our Entry Agency Programs below:
| Pregnant Women & Expectant Families Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Palm Beach County 561-623-2800 | Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies website |  |
| Families with Children Birth to Five HomeSafe 561-383-9871 | HomeSafe website |  |
Note: If you are a health provider or a Medicaid Health Plan and need to refer a patient or a client for services for a pregnant women or infant, please click here to download the Healthy Start Managed Care Organization Referral Form for Pregnant Women and Infants.
EveryParent
The EveryParent Campaign offers those parenting in Palm Beach County a unique, local resource full of tips, info and spot-on advice personalized for your family.
The EveryParent website allows you to …
- Learn about what to expect as your child grows.
- Get advice from local experts.
- Find answers to parenting questions and programs that can help.
The EveryParent apps (available for Android and Apple (iOS) devices) allows you to …
- Stay one step ahead of key moments in your child’s life.
- Get notifications from local experts to help make parenting easier.
- Save priceless memories to your child’s digital timeline.
Android app on Google play Download on the Apple App Sto
To visit the EveryParent website, please click here.
Healthy Start Needs Assessment
The Coalition completed the Healthy Start Needs Assessment in June 2020 and the Service Delivery Plan in June 2021. The assessment provided valuable information about the community we serve and how we can improve the services we provide. The assessment report is the key driver for creating and implementing the Service Delivery Plan.
Healthy Start Community Assessment Executive Summary (English)
To request the Healthy Start Service Delivery Plan in English or the Healthy Start Community Assessment Executive Summary in Spanish or Creole or to get a copy of the full report, please email Delores Haynes at delores.haynes@cscpbc.org.
Meetings
The Healthy Start Coalition of Palm Beach County has five Board Meetings annually. The meetings are held at the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County at 2300 High Ridge Road, Boynton Beach FL 33426. These meetings are open to the public and the public may comment on agenda items and other items.
In addition, the Healthy Start Coalition which is made of up of providers, community members, FL DOH, Healthy Beginnings contracted agencies and other community service entities, meets quarterly at the Children’s Services Council. These meetings are open to all.
Please note that both meetings will be offered virtually when deemed necessary by the Children’s Services Council.
BOARD MEETINGS:
January 17, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
April 17, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
June 26, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
August 28, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
October 16, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
GENERAL COALITION MEETINGS:
February 22, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
June 13, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
September 19, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
November 14, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.
To learn more about meeting details,
please email Delores Haynes at delores.haynes@cscpbc.org
Additional Information
Comments or complaints, please call:
(888) 634-7900 (select option 6) or (561) 374-7820 (select option 6)
Check out our Healthy Start PBC on Instagram: Healthy Start PBC (@healthystartpbc)
Healthy Start is funded by:
Florida Department of Health, Agency for Health Care Administration, Healthy Start MomCare Network, & Children’s Service Council of Palm Beach County
To learn more about the relevant Florida laws:
383.216 Community-based prenatal and infant health care.
409.975 Managed care plan accountability.