Through a Closing the Gap grant from the Florida Department of Minority Health, Leon County has partnered with Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition to provide education about safe sleep, preconception, interconception and prenatal health.  This partnership has evolved at a critical time for moms and babies, as reports indicate an increase in black infant deaths in Leon County in 2010. The "Leon County Campaign for Healthy Babies" is designed to reach African American women and girls of childbearing age to teach the importance of staying healthy prior to, during and after pregnancy. Health resources and information will also be provided to encourage women to maintain or establish a medical home.

Our goal is to reach at least 2,700 women in Leon County through health fairs, and the provision of health education classes in health centers, schools, faith-based organizations and other public venues. If you would like to schedule a FREE Healthy Start health education class at/for your organizations health event, contact LaRhonda Larkins at (850) 488-0288 ext. 106. 

Two of the part-time health educators, LaRhonda Larkins (left) and Cedrika Prewitt (right), posing at their booth at the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital for Life Under the Big Top