About

Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition

The Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition (NEFHSC), Inc. was organized in 1991 as part of a statewide network of community-based organizations to reduce Florida’s high infant mortality and improve the lives of pregnant women and their families. The group is governed by a volunteer coalition that allocates state funding and provides oversight to local agencies that deliver services to pregnant women and families of newborns. The Coalition covers Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties.

The NEFHSC is one of 32 organizations that make up the Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions, the statewide entity that develops and supports local systems of care to optimize the health of moms, babies and families.  Each coalition uses data and research to design a service delivery plan unique to their community. Together, the coalitions unite to have a collective impact toward better outcomes for Florida’s families.

Locally, the NEFHSC is comprised of members representing consumers, physicians, local government, business, health care payors, social services, education, civic organizations, public health, nurses, local medical societies, mental health, hospitals, local health planning agencies and midwifery in the five-county area. The 11-member governing board directs the NEFHSC’s efforts. Standing committees conduct the organization’s activities.

The NEFHSC is supported by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, the Florida Department of Health, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the City of Jacksonville, donations, grants and other funding sources. In 2023-24, the NEFHSC has a total budget of approximately $10 million. More than 90 percent of this funding is used to provide direct services to at-risk pregnant women, new mothers, infants, fathers and families through contracts with community providers, Community Connect, the Fetal & Infant Mortality Review (FIMR), the Azalea Project and the Magnolia Project, a federal Healthy Start initiative to reduce disparities in birth outcomes. Remaining resources support planning, administration and community-based initiatives around priority topics like fatherhood, safe sleep, adolescent reproductive health, breastfeeding and substance-exposed newborns.

Mission

Lead the community effort to reduce infant death and improve the well-being of children, childbearing women, fathers and their families in Northeast Florida.

Vision

To be a recognized model and catalyst for community involvement, collaboration and innovative services in order to significantly decrease infant death and have strong, healthy families in Northeast Florida.

Organizational Values

  • Collaboration: We will work together within our organization and with community partners to achieve our common goals.
  • Innovation: We will not be afraid to try new ideas through out-of-the-box approaches.
  • Compassion: We will look past stigmas to provide excellent services to all of our clients.
  • Integrity: We will stay true to the HSC mission and vision by remaining ethical and trustworthy.
  • Respect: We will engage co-workers and clients with open admiration.
  • Commitment: We will continue to have a strong commitment to the community and families we serve.

Publications