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Infant, Maternal & Reproductive Health Unit

 

Florida's HEALTHY START

 Healthy Start logo




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 newborn infants to identify those at risk of poor birth, health and developmental outcomes.

Healthy Start includes targeted support services that address identified risks. The range of Healthy Start services available to pregnant women, infants and children up to age three include:

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


Healthy Start Journey Redesign Process New

The goal of Healthy Start Journey is to increase the delivery of effective, evidence-based services in order to improve maternal and infant health outcomes for Florida's residents through the redesign of the Florida Healthy Start program.  In April 2011, at the conclusion of a competitive procurement process, the Florida Department of Health awarded Robertson Consulting Group, Inc. the contract to facilitate this redesign process in order to better meet the goals of Florida's Healthy Start program to improve maternal and infant health outcomes, including reducing infant and maternal morbidity and mortality.  

Healthy Start Redesign One Page Summary - [pdf; 75 kb]
Redesign (Steering) Committee Job Description - [pdf; 59 kb]
Subject Matter Expert Committee Job Description - [pdf; 60 kb]
Redesign (Steering) Committee Roster - [pdf; 40 kb]
Subject Matter Expert Committee Roster - [pdf; 54 kb]
Project Timeline - [pdf; 73 kb]
Healthy Start Journey Redesign Process - Frequently Asked Questions - [pdf; 64 kb] - UPDATED 10-24-2011

  • Redesign Committee Meeting Minutes
  • Redesign Committee Minutes 12-06-2011 - [pdf; 105 kb]
    Redesign Committee Minutes 10-04-2011 - [pdf; 56 kb]
    Redesign Committee Minutes 09-06-2011 - [pdf; 52 kb]
    Redesign Committee Minutes 08-02-2011 - [pdf; 52 kb]
    Redesign Committee Minutes 06-27-2011 - [pdf; 52 kb]

  • Subject Matter Expert Meeting Minutes

    Subject Matter Expert Minutes 01-06-2012 - [pdf; 84 kb]
    Subject Matter Expert Minutes 12-15-2011 - [pdf; 79 kb]
    Subject Matter Expert Minutes 12-02-2011 - [pdf; 80 kb]
    Subject Matter Expert Minutes 11-17-2011 - [pdf; 184 kb]
    Subject Matter Expert Minutes 11-04-2011 - [pdf; 175 kb]
    Subject Matter Expert Minutes 10-20-2011 - [pdf; 79 kb]
    Subject Matter Expert Minutes 09-30-2011 - [pdf; 33 kb]
    Subject Matter Expert Minutes 08-26-2011 - [pdf; 33 kb]
    Subject Matter Expert Minutes 07-06-2011 - [pdf; 33 kb]

  • Summary of Research Review
  • Summary of Research Review - [pdf; 1.34 mb]

  • Healthy Start Redesign Project Update
  • Project Update 01-27-2012 - [pdf; 60 kb]
    Quarterly Report 01-03-2012 - [pdf; 63 kb]
    Project Update 12-23-2011 - [pdf; 65 kb]
    Project Update 12-09-2011 - [pdf; 130 kb]
    Project Update 11-25-2011 - [pdf; 130 kb]
    Project Update 11-11-2011 - [pdf; 59 kb]
    Project Update 10-14-2011 - [pdf; 129 kb]
    Project Update 09-30-2011 - [pdf; 61 kb]
    Project Update 09-16-2011 - [pdf; 61 kb]
    Project Update 09-02-2011 - [pdf; 61 kb]
    Project Update 08-19-2011 - [pdf; 60 kb]
    Project Update 08-05-2011 - [pdf; 62 kb]
    Project Update 07-08-2011 - [pdf; 60 kb]
    Project Update 06-10-2011 - [pdf; 60 kb]

  • Meeting Notices
  • Meeting Notices - [pdf; 66 kb]

  • Meeting Agendas

    Steering Committee Meeting Agenda 12-06-11 - [pdf; 34 kb]
    Subject Matter Experts Meeting Agenda 12-02-11 - [pdf; 43 kb]
    Subject Matter Experts Meeting Agenda 11-17-11 - [pdf; 55 kb]
    Subject Matter Experts Meeting Agenda 11-04-11 - [pdf; 41 kb]
    Subject Matter Experts Meeting Agenda 10-20-11 - [pdf; 63 kb]

  • For questions or comments please contact Shelley Robertson at admin@snRobertson.com


    Healthy Start Facts

    A printable fact sheet that summarizes Florida's Healthy Start Program with program and health indicator statistics.


    Florida Right From The Start

    The Florida Right From The Start project is intended to increase awareness of preconception/interconception care, prenatal care, family support, and parenting among first-time mothers and parents with the greatest risk for adverse birth outcomes.

  • Florida Right From The Start


    Healthy Start Screening Forms and Brochures

    • Prenatal Risk Screening Forms image of new      
          1. English  - [pdf; 33 kb]
          2. Spanish - [pdf; 70 kb]
          3. Creole - [pdf; 33 kb]
    • Prenatal Risk Screening Brochures                          
      1. English - [pdf; 376 kb]
      2. Spanish - pdf; 376 kb]
      3. Creole - [pdf; 376 kb]
    • Infant Risk Screening Forms
          1.  English  - [pdf; 163 kb]
    • Infant Risk Screening Brochures
      1. English - [pdf; 376 kb]
      2. Spanish - [pdf; 165 kb]
      3. Creole - [pdf; 33 kb]


      Revised and Approved Healthy Start Care Coordination Record Review Forms and Initial Contact Forms (ready for use - PDF* or Word)

      Prenatal Healthy Start Care Coordination Record Review Form - PDF 84KB     
      Infant Healthy Start Care Coordination Record Review Form PDF - 42KB      Word - 122KB
      Healthy Start Care Coordination Record Review Summary Form PDF - 24KB
      Healthy Start Initial Contact Form PDF -76KB     Word - 188


      Medicaid Waiver for Healthy Start Services

      A summary of the Medicaid Waiver implemented July 1, 2001 for Healthy Start services reimbursement.


      Florida's Healthy Start Annual Reports

      This annual report(s) provide an overview of information on the year's activities and accomplishments of Florida's Healthy Start programs and services.


      Healthy Start Standards and Guidelines

      Healthy Start Standards and Guidelines


      Healthy Start Reports Website

      A website providing Healthy Start screening and service reports to county health departments, Healthy Start coalitions, and Department of Health headquarters staff. A username and password are needed to access this site at http://www.floridacharts.com/hs/hslogon.asp.

      Healthy Start Coalitions

      The thirty-two Healthy Start Coalitions throughout the state ensure community leadership and planning for a system of care in efforts to promote optimum health outcomes for pregnant women and infants. To find a Healthy Start Coalition location near you please visit the link below.

      Healthy Start Locator - Opens in new window 

      Contact

      For more information please contact the Florida Department of Health, Infant, Maternal, and Reproductive Health Unit.

       


      * Please Note: These documents are in the Portable Document Format (PDF). You may need to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them.

       

    • Infant, Maternal & Reproductive Health