County Executive Ryan McMahon Announces County Health Department Receives Grant Funding for Syracuse Healthy Start
Healthy Start works to reduce infant mortality & perinatal health outcomes
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – County Executive J. Ryan McMahon, II announced that the Onondaga County
Health Department has been awarded $4,750,000 over five years to support the Syracuse Healthy Start
Program. The federal funding, “Healthy Start Initiative: Eliminating Disparities in Perinatal Health”,
was awarded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau within the Health Resources and Services
Administration.
County Executive McMahon said, “Addressing the health of newborns and expectant mothers is a
critical piece to our overall effort to tackle poverty in our community.” McMahon continued, “We
cannot allow newborn babies to start their life at a disadvantage. This funding will continue to support
the health department’s work to improve the health and well-being of women, children, and families in
our community.”
The Syracuse Healthy Start program aims to reduce disparities in infant mortality and perinatal health
outcomes in the City of Syracuse. The program will serve new families, from pregnancy through a
child’s first 18 months, with a community-based approach to health equity and an emphasis on
empowering parents to meet their own personal goals, connect with community resources, and achieve
optimal health for themselves and their children.
Health Commissioner Dr. Indu Gupta said, “This funding provides an opportunity for the continuation
of our Syracuse Healthy Start program which began in 1997. We have seen improvement in health
outcomes, but more needs to be done. Gupta continued, “Through continued collaboration with our
community partners and supporting strong family engagement to achieve the best possible health
outcomes for moms, babies, dads, and families in our community.”
Syracuse Healthy Start provides many services, including but not limited to: outreach and case
management by home visiting public health nurses, social workers, and community health workers;
nutrition and child birth education; doula services; adolescent pregnancy prevention; breastfeeding
support; parenting skill building and support to fathers; linking to healthcare during and after pregnancy,
the WIC program, and other services; job training; and referral to housing assistance.
For more information about the Syracuse Healthy Start program, visit onhealthyfamilies.com/syracuse-healthy-start/.