The Magnolia Project is a special federally-funded Healthy Start initiative to improve the health and well-being of women during their childbearing years (15–44 years old) in 32208, 32209, 32211 and 32277.
Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of women during their childbearing years by empowering communities to address medical, behavioral, and cultural and social service needs.
Being a part of the Magnolia Project is important to me. It allows me to connect with mothers just like me. I formed quite a few relationships that I hope will continue on because it is very important to have that support.
History
The Magnolia Project offers clinical and case management services for women before, during and after pregnancy area in the city’s central urban core and adjacent area. The target area for implementation of the Magnolia Project was selected due to the high infant mortality rate and racial disparities. Our goal is to work with women to address risk factors (pregnancy intervals, nutrition issues, substance/alcohol abuse, psychosocial problems, family planning and other issues) that impact their health and may affect a future pregnancy.
The Magnolia Project was implemented in 1999 to address an identified gap in the system of maternal and child health services directly linked to health disparities in infant mortality — pre- and inter-conception care. The Project is a recognized leader in the development, implementation and evaluation of preconception health and related interventions using a life course approach and serves as an important community entry point for women seeking both prenatal and well-woman care, especially family planning services. In 2010 the project adapted its interventions to address social determinants and reproductive health capacity at the community-level, in addition to individual health and social risk factors.
The project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Partnerships
- Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP)
- AGAPE Community Health Centers Inc.
- MIECHV
- AmeriCorps
- Enroll America
- Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida
- Jacksonville Housing Authority ( JHA)
- JobCorps
- Fresh Ministries– Strengthen Families Program
- Gateway Community Services (GCS)
- River Region Human Services (RRHS)
- Edward Waters College
- Workforce Development
Evidence-based and Research Informed Programs, Curricula & Tools
- Nurse-Family Partnership (MIECHV)
- Healthy Families Jacksonville
- Early Head Start
- Partners for a Healthy Baby
- Magnolia Project Standardized Health Education Curriculum
- Make a Noise! Make a Difference! Lay Health Advocate Curriculum
- SCRIPT Smoking Cessation
- Strengthening Families
- 24/7 Dad, Boot Camp for New Dads, Mom as Gateway
- Foundations for Success in Parenting
- Edinburgh Depression Screen, Perceived Stress Scale, ACE Questionnaire, JHP Contextualized Stress Measure, WEB
- ASQ, ASQ-SE
Evaluation
The Northeast Florida Center for Community Initiatives (CCI) housed in the Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work Department at the University of North Florida serves as the local evaluator for the Magnolia Project.
Publications
Contact Information
Marsha Davis, Director
The Magnolia Project
5300 N. Pearl St.
Jacksonville, FL 32208
6024 Merrill Road
Jacksonville, FL 32277
Office: 904.353.2130 x1005
Fax: 904.353.2131