Florida Prenatal Screen

The Florida Prenatal Screen is a voluntary screening tool available to all expecting mothers. The purpose is to identify pregnant women who may benefit from home visiting services to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes for moms and babies, addressing:

  • Health problems
  • Low birth weight
  • Pre-term birth
  • Developmental delays

Home visiting programs utilize evidence-based models to provide education and care coordination within local communities. Moms that participate in the screen can be linked to support services for assistance.

Based on the responses to the screen, the following home visiting services may be available:

  • Home visiting individual support for mothers and fathers
  • Childbirth education
  • Doula services
  • Nutrition education
  • Preparations for baby’s arrival
  • Care coordination and connection to local services
  • Between pregnancies education and support
    • Planning for future pregnancies
    • Education on the family planning waiver
    • Education on contraception options
  • Free confidential screenings and referrals to community supports
    • Depression
    • Substance use
    • Tobacco use
    • Intimate partner violence

MOMS

The program is voluntary and available to all Florida residents. In order to determine if a mother qualifies to receive services she must sign her initials next to each “YES” section on the risk screen’s consent questions. Without consent Healthy Start cannot provide mothers with at-risk screening results and cannot provide the mother and child with free Healthy Start services.

 

BABIES

After you’ve had the baby, and before you go home from the hospital or birth center, ask your nurse if your baby has received a Postnatal Infant Screening. This questionnaire can uncover factors that could affect your health or the baby’s growth and development during the very important first year of life.

 

What if I don’t need any help?

Even if you don’t have problems or the desire to use the Healthy Start services, completing the Screen at your doctor or midwife’s office will be helpful in gathering the data and funding necessary to improve the system of care for ALL moms and babies in North Central Florida.