The Healthy Start program begins with the Florida Prenatal Screen, a brief questionnaire designed to identify the medical and social determinants of health in a pregnant person’s life that could impact their baby’s growth and development.
The screening process is critical for linking families to appropriate services, reducing infant mortality rates, and improving overall birth and developmental outcomes. Services are tailored to each family’s needs and delivered in various settings, with enrollment beginning at the first obstetric visit through the completion of the Florida Prenatal Screen, which helps track and address maternal and infant health concerns effectively. This screen serves as the first step in connecting families to various home visiting programs, such as Healthy Start, Healthy Families, Nurse Family Partnership, and Parents as Teachers.
These programs offer flexible, trained support to families at home or other chosen locations, addressing needs such as support during pregnancy, parenting education, breastfeeding assistance, mental health screenings, counseling, child development support, and connections to community resources.
Eligibility
Healthy Start ensures universal risk screening for all pregnant people and infants in Pinellas County, regardless of marital, economic, or immigration status, focusing on those at high risk for poor outcomes.