Referral information for the Healthy Babies, Strong Families Program

“The Healthy Babies, Strong Families Program is funded through the national Healthy Start program to address underlying causes of infant mortality such as poverty, psychosocial issues, and maternal health. Research has shown that in Aurora and Denver, the infant mortality rate is 3-4 times higher for African American women than non-Hispanic White women. Infant mortality can happen to any family regardless of income level, social status, and physical appearance including weight, age and fitness level. Click here to view the form to refer African American pregnant and parenting women to the program. There is NO income restriction. Open to all self-identified African American women in Denver and Aurora and metro area.

HBSF will address infant mortality by providing direct support to families on three levels:

1. Individual Family Level: Family Advocates use a strengths-based approach with families, along with the Partners for Healthy Baby curriculum and connect families to FFRC services such as fatherhood support groups, parenting education, and other partner resources (medical, social, employment etc.) to help strengthen families.
2. Group Level: Clients choose courses from a course catalog that include parenting, birthing, and social connections such as breastfeeding workshops, mom-to-mom mentoring and fatherhood groups.
3. Community Level: An Infant Mortality Collective Impact Network coordinates community-level systems-change to support healthy babies and strong families.” [Source: Families Forward Resource Center]