Avera Healthy Start

Avera Healthy Start provides information, education and resources to pregnant women and mothers with infants up to 18 months old available to patients across the Avera footprint in South Dakota.

Avera Research Institute received a $5.4 million grant through the Health Resources and Service Administration’s (HRSA) Healthy Start Initiative: Eliminating Health Disparities in Perinatal Health.

Program Details

One-on-one pregnancy and parenting education where patients can receive information from a registered dietitian and a community health worker.

Other Services Available

• Appointments with a social worker to provide pregnancy and parenting related information and resources
• Behavioral health services
• Consultations with a registered dietitian

Goals

• Eliminate health disparities
• Prevent infant mortality
• Enhance the health of the mother

Eligibility

• Pregnant women and new mothers with infants up to 18 months old in addition to their partners

Group-Based Education

Healthy Start dedicates portions of its funding to support group-based childbirth classes within the Avera footprint, which cover a variety of topics, including postpartum care, nutrition and safe sleep methods. The classes are free to attend and offered in the following locations.

• Aberdeen – Healthy Start: Childbirth Education
• Mitchell – Healthy Start: Getting Ready For Baby
• Pierre – Healthy Start: Childbirth Education
• Yankton – Healthy Start: Childbirth Education

Grant Number H49MC53007