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Read the Annual Report for the Florida Healthy Start Coalitions

How Did It All Happen?
Promoted by then-Governor Lawton Chiles, Healthy Start was established by the 1991 Florida Legislature to help reduce Florida's high infant mortality and improve the lives of pregnant women.  Since then, nearly three dozen local coalitions statewide have gained support from government leaders and individuals of every political and philosophical opinion.

The reason is simple: Healthy Start works.  Since Healthy Start began, Hillsborough County has seen a:

• 30% decrease in infant mortality - the sharpest decline in the past 25 years - fully three times the rate of the previous eight years.
• 11% decrease in very low birth weight babies (less than 5.5 pounds)
• 37% decrease in repeat births among teenagers
• 28% decrease in infants who die within the first 28 days of life

How Healthy Start Works
The state's 31 coalitions are partnerships made up of local public and private medical professionals, hospitals, schools, charities, social services agencies, the United Way and individuals. Coalition members work together to identify and resolve local health problems that affect pregnant women and their families.

Hillsborough County's Coalition was the first to receive state funding and the first to launch Healthy Start Program services. In addition to introducing and funding several programs that offer services to families, we've led community actions on teen pregnancy prevention, and conducted studies on school health.