Today, First Focus Campaign for Children, the National Healthy Start Association, and nearly 200 national, state, and local partner organizations urged leaders in the House and Senate to support funding for the Healthy Start program at $145 million in Fiscal Year 2026. Healthy Start funding has been threatened over the last several appropriations cycles, but has continued to be successfully funded with bipartisan support.
Excerpt from the letter:
As organizations deeply committed to the wellbeing of pregnant women, babies, and families during their earliest and most vulnerable years, we write to strongly urge you to maintain funding for the Healthy Start program at its current level of $145 million for Fiscal Year 2026.
For more than three decades, Healthy Start has served as a lifeline for thousands of families, particularly in maternity care deserts, where access to prenatal and maternal care is severely limited or nonexistent. Established in 1991 with strong bipartisan support, Healthy Start remains a critical tool in our nation’s fight against infant mortality and in improving maternal health.
Healthy Start targets communities experiencing the highest rates of infant mortality—more than 1.5 times the national average. Through its 115 federally funded sites across the country, the program offers a comprehensive array of services tailored to community needs and cultural values. Services include:
● Clinical care and case management
● Support from community-based doulas and health workers
● Health education, mental health screening and support
● Food and housing assistance
● Fatherhood initiatives
● Referrals for additional medical and social services