Healthy Start is a federally-funded initiative to improve the health and well-being of women during their childbearing years (14-45 years old) in zip code areas 33701, 33705, 33711, 33712 and 33713. This area in Pinellas County was selected as the target area for implementation of Healthy Start due to the high infant mortality rate. Our goal is to work with women to address risk factors (pregnancy intervals, nutrition, substance/alcohol use, psychosocial concerns, family planning and other issues) that impact their health and may affect a future pregnancy. Healthy Start at All Children's was implemented in 2014 to address an identified gap in the system of maternal and child health services directly linked to health disparities in infant mortality, pre- and inter-conception care. The Project will focus its efforts on improving women's health before, during and after pregnancy; promoting quality services with a focus on required core competencies and standardized interventions; strengthening family resilience by engaging both parents and addressing some of the stress that underlies many disparities in birth outcomes; achieving collective impact serving as community hubs that drive collective improvements; and increasing accountability through quality improvement, performance monitoring and evaluation. Additionally, Healthy Start will utilize a life course approach and serve as an important community entry point for women seeking both prenatal and well-woman care and family planning services. The Project will also focus on addressing social determinants and reproductive health capacity at the community-level, in addition to individual health and social risk factors.
