Healthy Start was born when Governor Lawton Chiles and the First Lady convened a group of community leaders and challenged them to build local coalitions to reduce Florida's alarmingly high infant mortality rate.

Governor Lawton Chiles believed every child deserved a healthy start in life and worked with communities to build strong local coalitions to provide high-quality prenatal care for mothers and health care for children.  The Florida Legislature created Healthy Start in 1991 .

Although Healthy Start has accomplished much, there is still much work to be done. Join us in giving every child a Healthy Start!

Healthy Start builds on Governor Chiles' experience as chairman of the National Commission to Prevent Infant Mortality and helps at-risk mothers receive the care they need for a healthy pregnancy and baby.     

Chipola Healthy Start, Inc. serves Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, and Washington Counties.  It was formed in 1993 under legislative mandate to ensure that pregnant women and their newborn babies have access to the prenatal and infant health services needed for a healthy start in life.

Healthy Start Focuses on…..

• Informing the community about the importance of preventive health care for mothers and babies
• Identifying the health care services the community wants for pregnant woman and infants
• Identifying the barriers that prevent women and children from obtaining the services they need
• Develop a plan to bring needed services to the community

FYI  Pregnant women or new mothers can call the HEALTHY BABY HOTLINE 1-800-451-BABY(2229) to get information about available services in our area. Call your local Health Department if you would like to know more about Healthy Start services.You may also go to text4babies.org to receive valuable tips about your pregnancy!