Our Impact

For all children, appropriate “Back to Sleep” arrangements are necessary to prevent Sudden Infant Death. Over 98% of Healthy Start parents assure that children are sleeping on their back, alone and inside of an uncluttered crib or pack n’ play.

A primary risk factor related to both sudden infant death and long-term medical problems is exposure to second hand cigarette smoke. Healthy Start targets families using tobacco and offers extensive education on cessation. In fact, more than 75% of our mothers who smoke and accept a referral for a cessation program participate and reduce the harm to their babies.

Access to preventive care remains a leading indicator of positive birth outcomes for pregnant women and normative developmental progression of our infants. 90% of our pregnant women experience care in their 1st trimester. For the more than 850 children receiving services on any given day almost all, 97%, have a medical home for ongoing care. 

For women receiving Healthy Start services, 9 out 10 women can expect to have babies born at term and of normal weight.  For those babies born premature and requiring specialized medical care, 100% of our mothers can feel secure that they will receive essential specialty care services in the region.

Please consider the following charts comparing perinatal outcomes of Healthy Start, Inc. program participants to those of Allegheny County community participants, and the Healthy People 2010 Goals.

SOURCES: Healthy Start, Inc. Participant Inormation Management System; PA Department of Health Vital Statistics*