A child that starts life in good health has much better long term prospects. The Healthy Start program aims to improve infant health in Philadelphia by linking young mothers and pregnant women with resources to ensure positive birth outcomes and optimal infant health.

Healthy Start is a center based and home visiting program funded by the Philadelphia Department of Health, Division of Maternal Child and Family Health. Family Support Services was selected to provide this program in Southwest Philadelphia as of June 1, 2009.

Healthy Start is a prevention program that addresses the root causes of high infant mortality and low birth weight among high risk Philadelphia communities. It serves women who are pregnant and/or have children up to 24 months old with targeted service and community linkages that will help ensure that babies are born healthy and children stay on target developmentally and physically.

All Healthy Start clients receive two home visits a month while pregnant and then weekly visits for the first six weeks post partum. After six weeks “low risk” clients transition to a less intensive schedule of quarterly home visits with interim center-based office visits. “moderate” and “high risk” clients, though, continue to receive biweekly home visits. Health and parenting education are emphasized along with optimal birth spacing, home safety, infant care, child development, post-partum depression, and the prevention of chronic disease.

To contact FSS’s Healthy Start program please email childwelfare@FSSinc.org or call 215-438-9890.