Healthy Start

Service Goals 

• Reduce low birth weight babies.
• Decrease infant mortality.
• Increase positive pregnancy outcomes.
• Improve the health of women and children.

Healthy Start Brochure - English (1.37 MB PDF)

Healthy Start Brochure - Spanish (1.96 MB PDF)

Services Provided 

• Home visiting support and education for a healthy pregnancy
• Connection to services requested and identified
• Educational topics: Parenting, breastfeeding, immunization, family planning, and healthy eating
• Depression screening and referrals
• Substance abuse screening
• Tobacco screening
• Intimate partner violence screening
• Fatherhood support
• Infant assessment and referrals
• Smoking cessation and stress reduction

Services are available to all Duval County pregnant women and children up to three years old (women who are in between pregnancies are also eligible).

Eligibility Criteria 

Any pregnant woman can take the Florida Healthy Start Prenatal Risk Screen, a short questionnaire offered by medical providers at doctor’s offices and birthing hospitals. Mothers or caretakers of infants and children up to three years old are also eligible for care coordination. Community-based referrals and self-referrals are also available.

Service Locations 

Care coordinators provide education and support primarily in client’s homes. The team can also provide services at the convenience of the client, which may include doctor’s appointments, WIC appointments, or any location in the community that provides privacy.

Payment Options 

Healthy Start services are provided at no cost.

Community Partners 

• Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition
• Magnolia Project
• Azalea Project
• UF Health
• Children’s Home Society
• Healthy Families
• Department of Children and Families
• Inspire to Rise
• Capta
• Nurse Family Partnership
• Early Head Start

How Can I Enroll? 

Contact your healthcare provider, Community Connect or Healthy Start and ask to complete a Healthy Start screening form or referral form. The form is a short questionnaire, and your answers are confidential.

Healthy Start: 904-253-1390

Community Connect: 904-518-3342