Healthy Beginnings

A baby is born into this world weighing less than five pounds and eight ounces is at greater risk of dying, being sick or having developmental problems.

Banner Health wants to make sure all babies have a fighting chance for happy, healthy lives. We offer the McKee Healthy Beginnings program for families with little or no health insurance.

• The program offers health care, education and support for the delivery of healthy babies.
• In 2008, Healthy Beginnings helped 329 women deliver their babies safely.
• Since Healthy Beginnings began in 1991, the number of low birth-weight babies in the program has dropped from 11 percent to 6.3 percent, well below the state average of 9 percent.
• We offer care to any woman no matter how far along they are in their pregnancy. -- we believe we can still make a difference by offering remaining prenatal care and delivery as well as advocacy.
• We have classes in breastfeeding, stress management, and basic infant care, a monthly "Mom's Group,"--and most recently, the opportunity for expectant fathers to meet with a male social worker. 
• Some women helped by the program are young; we  successfully encourage them to go back to school once their babies are born safely.
• Other women are older, some of whom have been laid off from high paying jobs and find themselves suddenly without insurance or resources.

 A $100 donation would buy 108 pocket planners for Healthy Beginnings clients to help them keep track of their appointments.