DHSPS provides national leadership, direction, and support to communities to reduce infant mortality rates and improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Our division invests in communities with the goal of improving health before, during, and after pregnancy.
Programs and initiatives
We support better health for mothers, babies, and families through:
- Direct, clinical, and enabling services
- Data and infrastructure
- Policy and systems change
- Catalyst for Infant Health
- Technical assistance
- Partner engagement, strategy, and design
Key accomplishments
Healthy Start
- HRSA supports 115 Healthy Start projects providing services in 37 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Projects are based in community settings and provide services; screening; and parenting and health education to mothers, fathers/partners, and babies up to 18 months. Access our Healthy Start fact sheet (PDF - 876 KB).
- In 2023, Healthy Start projects served nearly 83,000 participants.
- 85% of Healthy Start participants initiated prenatal care during the first trimester.
- 99% of women in Healthy Start programs were screened for depression with 71% of women who screened positive receiving a referral to a specialist.
- In recent years, infant mortality rates among Healthy Start participants have consistently decreased each year, while the overall national rates increased (as reported by grantees during comparable time periods).
Maternal and Infant Health Mapping Tool
- Our interactive online tool allows users to create and customize maps to explore the geographic relationships between maternal and infant health indicators, health resources, and demographics.
- The tool helps federal, state, and local decision-makers visualize maternal and infant health factors so they can better understand needs, target resources, and plan programs.
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