Helping Mothers Have Healthy Babies

Program Overview

The goal of Healthy Start is to reduce infant mortality in the project areas.  Infant Mortality is when a baby dies before the age of one. Provided to clients are: case management through home visiting; enrollment into prenatal care; interconceptional services to post partum women; depression screenings and appropriate mental health services; transportation to doctor appointments and center services; early childhood development activities for children while parents are receiving services on-site as well as family child development activities such as the Ages and Stages Assessment, Growing Great Kids curriculum, and the Bright Beginnings Curriculum; HIV testing and counseling; testing and treatment for bacterial vaginosis and sexually transmitted diseases; contraception education and dispensing; parenting and breastfeeding groups; and emergency needs such as food and clothes.

Healthy Start is a recognized programmatic success within the array of 96 funded Healthy Start programs nationally. Over 8,052 women and infants, representing approximately 75% of the Project Area live births from 1993 through 2006, have received Healthy Start services of which 6,260 women were enrolled during pregnancy, with an additional 1,792 enrolled postpartum or during interconception. Healthy Start services are offered through the child's second birthday. In order to build upon past efforts toward eliminating disparities in perinatal health, BCHS offers a core set of outreach and case management services.

Target Audience

Pregnant women and women up to six months post partum living in specific areas of East and West Baltimore.

Service Area

Middle East Service Areas Boundaries:
Federal Street on the North
Baltimore Street on the South
Edison Highway on the East
Caroline Street on the West.

Sandtown/Winchester/Harlem Park Service Area Boundaries
North Avenue on the North
Franklin Street on the South
Pennsylvania/Fremont Avenues on the East
Pulaski Street on the West

Greater Rosemont Service Area Boundaries
Presbury Street on the North
Edmondson Avenue (turns into Franklin coming East) on the South
Bentalou on the East
Hilton Street on the West

Highlandtown Service Area Boundaries
Monument Street on the North
Bank Street on the South
Haven Street on the East
Central Street on the West

Greater Greenmount Service Area Boundaries
25th Street on the North
Monument Street on the South
Edison Highway on the East
Greenmount Avenue on the West

# Clients Enrolled/ Served
500+ women per year are enrolled

Impact Statement

Very low birth weight among Healthy Start Clients has reduced to .7% of live births which is less than the Healthy People 2010 goals of 9%.

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