About Us
Our Mission
We support healthy pregnancies, thriving infants, and strong families in Flagler and Volusia counties by connecting parents with education, community partners, and essential resources so every child has a healthy start.
Because Every Baby
Deserves a Healthy Start!
Our History
In 1991, the Florida Legislature established the Healthy Start Initiative to improve the health and wellbeing of pregnant women, infants and young children. This initiative led to the creation of 32 Healthy Start Coalitions across the state, including the Healthy Start Coalition of Flagler & Volusia Counties (HSCFV).
This landmark legislation sought to ensure that all babies born in the state of Florida are given the opportunity to have a healthy start in life.
The primary objectives are to:
- Reduce infant mortality and morbidity,
- Improve pregnancy outcomes,
- Enhance the health and development of children birth to age 3.
Key components of the statute mandated:
- Universal screening of pregnant women and newborn infants to identify those at risk of poor birth, health and developmental outcomes,
- Increased access to comprehensive, risk-appropriate maternity and well-child care and support services,
- State-wide implementation of community-based care coordination systems,
- Expansion of Medicaid funding and expanded eligibility for pregnant women,
- Formation of local coalitions to spearhead system change through public-private partnerships at the community level and leverage additional resources.
For more information about Healthy Start Coalitions or to read about the history, facts, and standards and guidelines of the program, visit the Florida Department of Health’s website.