Healthy Start

In 1991, state legislation created Florida’s Healthy Start program. The Healthy Start program aims to reduce infant deaths, decrease number of low birth weight babies, and improve health and development outcomes for all Florida babies. All pregnant women who receive prenatal care in Florida qualify for a Healthy Start screening by their obstetrician. Florida hospitals offer the screening to all new parents at the time of delivery. The screening aims to identify babies who have a greater risk for poor health outcomes. Before the screening begins, a parent must complete and submit a questionnaire about their baby’s health. The questionnaire is strictly confidential. Once the screening concludes, Healthy Start personnel will help families reduce risks by providing targeted care coordination services.

Eligibility: Eligibility is based on your screening score and/or any other identified risk factors. Eligibility is NOT based on income or other financial factors. For additional information regarding eligibility requirements, please call 850-683-5002.

Services: A Healthy Start Care Coordinator will help you arrange a variety of services as needed to help meet your needs and the goal for having a healthy baby. We also serve children up to three years of age.

Services include:

•          Home visits
•          Help making doctor appointments
•          Childbirth education
•          Breastfeeding support and education
•          Parenting education
•          Family planning education
•          Smoking cessation support and education
•          Counseling services
•          Referrals for nutrition counseling
•          Coordination with local agencies and resources

Chautauqua Health Care Services has Healthy Start offices in Crestview and Fort Walton Beach, servicing Okaloosa County residents. 

Healthy Start Supervisor is Rhonda R. Riess, M.Ed