Health Start In Pinal County

This is a new program for Pinal County called "Health Start" & is a grant funded program by the Arizona Department of Health Services dealing with pregnancy services due to a lack of health care for pregnant women in the Tri-Community Area (San Manuel, Oracle, Mammoth). Citing the ADHS study, Acevedo said that 39% of pregnant women in the Mammoth area did not receive prenatal care in the 1st trimester, 35% in San Manuel & 37% in Oracle. The state average is 26%. The Health Start program started organizing in the Tri-Community area in October 2005, but didn't start seeing women until March of this year. The program has 2 clinics, 1 in San Manuel at the Sun Life Family Health Center & 1 in Mammoth at 110 Main Street. Health Start is intended to offer support to pregnant women & mothers of infants through lay health care workers. They do not perform any medical procedures or dispense medical advice, but they are trained to diagnose problems & offer referrals when needed. The program offers free pregnancy tests & offers a vast array of classes to help educate women about pre & post natal care. Since some people have transportation problems, the Health Start program will make home visits once a month before the birth of the child & once the baby is born they will be there as well. They will make sure the baby is properly immunized, provide post partum education along with helping to screen for developmental delays & make referrals for treatment. If you are interested in such a FREE service, place a call to the Health Start program at 487-2110 or 487-2883.