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Maternal & Child Health Division

Healthy Babies Healthy Start

Healthy Families America

Who We Are:

Healthy Babies Healthy Start (HBHS) is a long-standing community program built to address Kalamazoo’s infant mortality disparity. Together, we can accomplish this through community collaborations promoting changing systems that negatively impact families, providing one-on-one support through home visits, and undertaking community health initiatives.

The HBHS program works to:

  • Offer free, one-on-one support to birthing and parenting families.
  • Promote community health through free community education and events.

Contact Us

311 E. Alcott St.
Kalamazoo, MI 49001

269-373-5200 (HCS main line)
269-373-5279 (program line)
E-Mail

       

This free program supports women and caregivers through a variety of services and outreach efforts from our multifaceted team.

Who We Serve

  • Women of reproductive age
  • New and expecting parents
  • Infants from birth to 18 months of age
  • Fathers

Services Provided

  • Childbirth and health education
  • Social and emotional support
  • Nutrition guidance and connection
  • Bonding and attachment
  • Certified lactation consulting
  • Co-parenting and fatherhood support
  • Safe sleep education
  • Family planning and contraceptive support
  • Postpartum support
  • Individualized goal planning
  • Child development milestones

Community Resource Connections

  • Referrals for food assistance, housing, childcare, baby items, transportation, employment, etc.
  • Financial planning
  • Assistance obtaining health insurance
  • Varied educational classes and family-fun events

It is important that mothers, fathers, and caregivers live meaningful and dignified lives allowing them to provide safe, happy, and healthy environments for the children in their lives.

Who we help:

The program focuses on the health and well-being of expectant and postpartum mothers and their child(ren) until 18 months of age. Additional support is also extended to fathers and other caregivers as well as women preconception.

We support mothers, fathers, and families in many ways and advocate for those of all backgrounds and income levels to support babies and help families to thrive. Our team helps remove barriers and provides guidance as needed, empowering participants as they discover and pursue what is best for them and their loved ones.

Where we help:

We serve the greater Kalamazoo community, including the following ZIP codes:

How we help:

The HBHS program has a variety of services and outreach efforts.

Our team provides personalized support and information for women and individuals to confidently care for themselves and their babies. Participation in the program includes routine monthly visits with a care coordinator from the HBHS team. The participant and the care coordinator meet one-on-one, where they are most comfortable whether in their homes or virtually.

In order to meet the needs of each individual, meeting topics are flexible, whether guiding indvidiuals and families through the pregnancy process, helping prepare them for labor and delivery, or educating on and promoting infant safety.

Our team works closely with participants to determine what support is needed and develop a plan together to ensure families are as prepared as possible to care for their little ones through infancy.

We know the importance of having accessible resources, and our team works to connect families to those resources across Kalamazoo County. From food assistance, housing, and childcare to transportation, employment, and mental and physical health support, we're committed to doing our best when it comes to helping our participants find what they need.

Our community resource experts are happy to connect and help families navigate relationships with varying community partners to enable them to excel in all areas.

Additional Resources:


Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services is committed to providing equitable, culturally competent care to all individuals served, regardless of race, age, sex, color, national origin, religion, height, weight, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. 

Links to external sites do not constitute endorsements by Kalamazoo County.