The Orange County Healthy Start Program offers medical and social services, education and referrals to pregnant women and infants in order to ensure healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.

How does It Work?

Healthy Start begins at your first prenatal care visit at the doctor's office and/or at the hospital or birthing facility after delivery. Local obstetricians, midwives and hospital staff administer the Healthy Start screening form, which is just a questionnaire. The purpose of the screening form is to identify risks that could affect your pregnancy or child's first years. The answers you give to the questions on the screening form will determine whether or not you or your baby qualifies for the special Healthy Start services. Ask your healthcare provider and/or birthing facility about your free and confidential Healthy Start screening.

There is no cost for Healthy Start services and they are based on risk and need not income or insurance. By filling out the Healthy Start questionnaire, you are improving the likelihood of your baby getting a Healthy Start in life.

Healthy Start provides a variety of services to help women have a healthy baby including:

• Pregnancy and Baby Care education
  
• Breastfeeding education
  
• Childbirth classes
  
• Counseling
  
• Help to stop smoking
  
• House calls by health professionals
  
• Nutrition education
  
• Referrals to other agencies

To contact Healthy Start, call 407-254-6822.

Are You Pregnant? Have no insurance?

If you are pregnant and are without insurance you may apply for Medicaid for your pregnancy. The simple one-page applications are available at your local Medicaid Eligibility offices, county health departments, community health centers, pregnancy testing centers and local physicians. Your eligibility is determined based on the family's income and the size of the family, which includes the unborn baby. You must be a Florida resident and a United States citizen.

The application must have a proof of pregnancy letter attached (home pregnancy test is not accepted). Applications may be mailed, faxed or hand delivered to the local Department of Children and Families office. Women's determination for eligibility is often received within 45 days by mail.

For more information or for an application, call MomCare 407-836-9261

MomCare is a program designed to assist Medicaid eligible pregnant women with questions such as:

• What do I do now?
  
• Where do I go?
  
• What help is available for me?
  
• Who can I talk to for help?
  

MomCare is sponsored in partnership by the Florida Healthy Start Coalitions Association Florida Department of Health and Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration. The goals of MomCare are to ensure early prenatal care, identify special needs and increase women's participation in Healthy Start and WIC services.

The MomCare staff provides special attention to women by:

• Assisting with choosing a physician for there pregnancy
  
• Assisting with choosing a physician for there newborn
  
• Following up to ensure prenatal visits are kept
  
• Ensuring Healthy Start screening
  
• Alleviating barriers to care
  
• "Providing referrals for other needs