RW News: FAMU’s Counseling Center Partners with Capital Area Healthy Start to Support Students, Increase Health Education, and Reduce Racial Disparity

Capital Area Healthy Start and the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Counseling Center have teamed up to provide the support needed by a special university population – pregnant students and those who are parents striving to complete their education.

“College can be an incredibly stressful time under the best of circumstances, but when you add a pregnancy or the care of an infant into the mix, additional support is vital,” said Ann Davis, executive director of Capital Area Healthy Start. “Stress is one of the leading causes of early labor and we are thrilled with this opportunity to work hand-in-hand with FAMU to give these college moms the help they need.”

A Healthy Start care coordinator with the Leon County Health Department will be housed at FAMU’s Counseling Center for 30 hours a week. Healthy Start will provide whatever assistance the students need to have a healthy baby, referrals for insurance and assistance with early entry to prenatal care. Students in the Healthy Start program will also receive childbirth education, parenting and baby care classes and emotional support. Community referrals will also be provided for other services that might be needed.

The recent rise in racial disparity in infant mortality rates in Leon County highlight the need for pre-pregnancy health and education to young African American women. One of the goals of the Healthy Start partnership is to provide education to young women before they become pregnant in an effort to prevent future losses.

“We want to educate young women and men on ways to create healthy habits today that will last a lifetime,” said Yolanda Bogan, director of the FAMU Counseling Center.