Central Oklahoma Healthy Start Initiative is a national federal program whose mission is to reduce infant mortality, the incidence of low birth weight babies and perinatal disparities in Oklahoma and Pottawatomie County. The program strives to engage women who are at risk in prenatal health care early in their pregnancy and provide ongoing care, education and support throughout their pregnancy and postpartum period. In addition to providing Prenatal Health Care, the program also provides critical screenings, counseling and referrals for drug and alcohol dependency, domestic violence, and mental health issues that impact the health of both the mother and child. Our case managers are a trusted source of guidance and support. In addition to linking families to quality services through our agency Community Health Centers, Inc., we also provide support through vital resources, such as transit cards and employment referrals.

This voluntary program provides services and support for mothers and fathers before, during and after pregnancy to assist them in having healthy babies.

Services and support provided include information families can use to take care of themselves and their babies such as:

Parenting support and education
Pregnancy support and education
Breastfeeding education and support
Relationship development and support
Reproductive Life Planning
Healthy lifestyle choices
Fatherhood engagement, education, and support

Services also include connecting families with needed community services such as:

Insurance enrollment assistance
Referrals to doctors/clinics so mothers and children can get proper medical care
Referrals for food assistance
Referrals for job training
Parenting programs
Nutrition and breastfeeding counseling

Who Can Enroll? Women of childbearing age, pregnant women, mothers and their babies, infants and children under 18 months of age, and expecting fathers or father of a child under 18 months.

For more information, contact the Healthy Start Program at (405) 427-3200.