The Healthy Start program is available to all pregnant women and mothers with infants in Seminole County. This program is voluntary and eligibility is not based on financial factors. A free health screening is provided at your first visit with a doctor or at the hospital after your baby is born.

 

The health screening helps to identify if your baby is at-risk for:

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• Pre-term birth

• Health problems

• Fetal/infant death

• Low birth weight

• Developmental delays

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What the program offers

• Home Visiting – one-on-one support from a friendly advisor in your home or a convenient community location

• Prenatal Education & Support – understand changes to your body, and what to expect during labor and delivery

• Free Screening & Services – get screened for common problems pregnant women and new families often experience, and receive services if you need them

• Parenting Education & Support – get tips on taking care of your baby and learn more about how he grows and develops

• Care Coordination – get help with finding prenatal and pediatric care, access support groups and classes.

• Health and Well-Being – plan for future pregnancies by learning all the options, and connect to training, education, child care and other resources to help you and your family succeed.

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Who is eligible? Pregnant women, infants and families with children up to age 3 who are at-risk for poor birth outcomes and need help with healthy child development. Eligibility is based on the Healthy Start screen, which is a simple one-page set of questions used to determine if mom or baby could benefit from Healthy Start services. The Healthy Start screen can uncover factors that could affect mom’s health or the baby’s health, growth and development.

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How to enroll: Healthcare providers are required by Florida law to offer the Healthy Start screen to all pregnant women on their first prenatal visit and to newborns at the hospital or birth center. If you are not offered the Healthy Start screen—ask for it!

 

Pregnant women and parents/caregivers of an infant and/or children under age 3 can also call the Connect Program at (321) 363-3024 to enroll by phone in the Healthy Start program.