Mission & Goals

The goals of the Healthy Start program are to reduce infant mortality, reduce the number of low birth weight babies, and improve health and developmental outcomes.

The Healthy Start Coalition of Manatee County’s board of directors allocates funding to local agencies to provide Healthy Start program services, which include:

• Prenatal and Infant Risk Screening done at OB/GYN offices and delivery hospitals
• Connection to Home Visiting and Resources through Coordinated Intake and Referral
• Individualized Care Coordination
• Breastfeeding and Childbirth education
• Parenting education and support
• Preventative Screenings for Intimate Partner Violence, Substance Use, Perinatal and Postpartum Depression and Child Development with Corresponding Intervention Pathways
• Smoking Cessation Assistance
• Home Visiting
• Community Education and outreach
• Baby items such as diapers, wipes, pack ‘n play portable cribs, breast pumps, baby blankets and baby clothing (availability based on private funding)

HSCMC also regularly seeks grants to help address related emerging maternal child health needs such as infant safe sleep education, teen pregnancy prevention, and substance exposed newborns.