The Health Start Program utilizes lay health workers to provide education, support, and advocacy services to pregnant/postpartum women and their families in targeted communities across the state.  The lay health workers, live in and reflect the ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of the communities they serve.  Families receive home visits and case management with oversight by nurses and social workers, through the enrolled child’s second year of life. 

Why is this program needed? 

To address health, environmental and stress factors that can impact birth outcomes and the development of infants and children. We know low birth weight babies are 40 times more likely to die in the first month of life, and are at greater risk for long-term health and developmental problems. Research also indicates that Infants born to women with no prenatal care are 16 times more likely to die in the first month of life than babies of women who had more than 5 prenatal visits. 

What are the goals of the program?   

• To prevent low birth weight in infants
• Increase care for high-risk pregnant women
• To ensure that every program child is appropriately immunized and has a medical home. 
• To provide health education to pregnant/postpartum women and their families on topics ranging from prenatal care, parenting, breast feeding and well childcare to safety, and other issues
• To screen for early identification of developmental delays and make appropriate referrals for treatment

What has the program achieved? 

During 2005, 38 lay/community health workers completed 10,069 visits and classes, averaging 5.0 encounters per client.

Of the 975 clients who enrolled in the program prenatally, 45% were in their first trimester; 30% were in their second trimester of pregnancy.

Health Start served clients ranging from 12 - 53 years old. 53% of registrants were aged 20-29. 55% of those visited were in that same age group.

There were 785 babies born to Health Start mothers in 2005. 12 of those were under 3 pounds 5 ounces (very low birth weight), 7 of which were from multiple births.

The most common resources that prenatal clients were referred to were WIC, Childbirth Classes, Breastfeeding, Prenatal Care, and AHCCCS. The most common resources referred to during followup visits were Family Planning, Immunizations, Adult Education, WIC and AHCCCS.


Need more information?

Health Start 
Sara Rumann, Program Manager
150 North 18th Avenue, Suite 320
Phoenix, Arizona  85007 
Phone: (602) 364-1421 
Fax:     (602) 364-1495
Email:    rumanns@azdhs.gov

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