New and expecting mothers can access medical care through the Healthy Start program operated by BCFS Health and Human Services. Healthy Start provides moms and their babies with routine medical care, access to lab and pharmacy services, registration assistance for various programs, and educational content that teaches them best practices. Healthy Start is part of BCFS Health and Human Services’ broad capabilities that include assistance for youth in foster care, low-income parents, homeless youth and families, victims of domestic violence, and expectant mothers.

The goals of Healthy Start include lowering infant mortality risks and occurrences and providing moms and families with a toolkit of resources for optimal health and stability. Healthy Start offers expanded access to care through a mobile medical unit. This capability means BCFS Health and Human Services can travel to offer women more flexibility for accessing care. It’s ideal for women with physical mobility limitations and those without reliable or cost-effective transportation methods. The mobile unit offers routine medical care and is frequently redesigned and improved to better promote Healthy Start and better serve the program’s participants.

Healthy Start and the mobile care unit in Tyler are part of BCFS Health and Human Services’ broader goals for building mutual trust within the community. The organization’s leaders understand this engagement exposes more people to the benefits of its services including Healthy Start and other programs. It strives to be “continuously present” so community members such as expectant mothers will embrace the organization and feel comfortable seeking out services.