Kent County Healthy Start

Downloadable Documents

• Driving Directions
• Regular Naps Improve Nighttime Sleep
• Postpartum Depression Resources
• Nutrition Brochure
• How to Feed Your Baby
• Food for Your Baby's First Year
• Childcare Options
• Focus on Adolescent Services
• Activities for 0 to 12 months
• Who Can I Call if I have a Breastfeeding Question?

Kent County Healthy Start is a FREE service that offers support and information to ALL first time mothers and their infants who live in Kent County. Healthy Start helps relieve the stress of having a new baby through phone calls, home visits, written information, Ages and Stages Questionnaires, and links to helpful community resources.

Kent County Healthy Start provides information, support, and guidance that will help parents:

• Connect with their community and other new parents
• Find childcare, medical care, and transportation
• Keep their baby healthy and safe
• Teach, play with, and enjoy their child.

Healthy Start is available to all first-time parents in Kent County regardless of age, income, or education level. It is FREE, confidential, and respectful of culture, language, and traditions. Parents can sign-up before giving birth or before their child turns seven months old by:

• Calling the Kent County Health Department at (616) 632-7021
• Submitting the electronic registration form included on this webpage
• In the hospital when your baby is born
• Or through your public health nurse

For more information contact the Child and Family Resource Council at (616) 454-4673 or email .

Kent County Healthy Start Registration / Sign-up

• Click here to sign-up

Stats

How effective is Healthy Start? See for yourself. Last year:

• 98% of children surveyed by Healthy Start are on-target developmentally
• 100% of parents reported improved understanding of parenting and development while being active in the program
• Approximately 3,000 community referrals were made to families active in Healthy Start.

Testimonials

Upon receiving her last phone call from Healthy Start, a new mom shared her appreciation and gratitude for the program. She stated, "Callers were very helpful and the calls were reassuring. You come with this new baby and you're not sure what to do. Then you start getting calls. You find out that the feelings you have are normal."

Another mom states, "I make sure I tell my friends to sign-up for this program!"

Grants/Funding Sources

Funding Provided in Part by:

• Alticor
• US Department of Education – Parent Information and Resource Centers
• Steelcase Foundation
• Kent County
• network180 (Community Mental Health Substance Abuse Network of West Michigan)
• United Way
• Private Donations

Partnerships

Healthy Start services are provided by:

• Arbor Circle Corporation (Home Visitation Services)
• Catholic Social Services (Home Visitation Services)
• Child and Family Resource Council (Administration & Phone Call Support)
• Kent County Health Department (Enrollment)

Volunteer for Healthy Start!

Trained volunteers for the Healthy Start program are integral to successfuly supporting first-time parents in Kent County. Look here for our next volunteer training opportunity.