Healthy Start

The Healthy Start program, funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration, is a community-based program focused on improving maternal and child health at the national, state, and local levels. At its core, Healthy Start is about meeting communities where they are.

In 2024, the Georgia Healthy Policy Center, through Mindworks, was awarded a federal grant to support the Georgia Strong Families Healthy Start Program. Georgia Strong Families is one of six Healthy Start sites serving in Georgia, designed to address the specific needs of the local communities, particularly in areas facing high rates of infant mortality — rates at least 1.5x the national average for premature birth, low birth weight, and maternal health complications.

Mindworks has partnered with the Georgia Department of Public Health West Central Health District to implement the Georgia Strong Families locally in Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Muscogee, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, and Taylor counties. Georgia Strong Families strengthens Georgia’s system of care by connecting families to resources and services to enhance behavioral health wellness and foster a positive family environment to ensure a healthy start for all infants and children.

Click the button for more information on the federal Healthy Start project.

Federal Healthy start

Georgia Strong Families provides the following services:

Get more information about the local work of the Georgia Strong Families Program.

Georgia Strong families

Behavioral health services

Clients receive group and individual counseling from licensed therapists for postpartum depression and other behavioral health challenges.

Doula services

Postpartum women are connected to certified doulas to provide support after birth and ensure that mother and baby have a medical home for postpartum health care.

Home visiting

Each enrolled family receives one in-person and one virtual home visit with a family support specialist who provides parenting education and links the family to needed resources and services.

Fatherhood

Georgia Strong Families provides case management to fathers and exclusive fatherhood activities to ensure that fathers feel included and supported.

Community Consortium

This unified body consists of a variety of stakeholders, including program participants, faith leaders, Title V contributors, and public health experts — all working together for a common goal of improving the well-being of families.

Georgia 2024 Awardees (5-year grant)

Laurens County Board of Health
Wellstar Health System, Inc.
Southside Medical Center, Inc.
Center for Black Women’s Wellness, Inc.
The Corporation of Mercer University

the collaborative

Through the Georgia Healthy Start Collaborative, the six sites share expertise and resources, increase influence and advocacy, develop holistic strategies to address the root causes, avoid duplication and enhance efficiency, build alliances and partnerships, and work toward ensuring long-term sustainability of Healthy Start services for Georgia’s families.