Maternal and Child

Health Coalition

of Greater Kansas City

Press Release

Contact: Cesar Motts FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Office:816.283.6242 x249 July 7, 2005

Congressman Moore Supports Healthy Start Program and Visits Client

Kansas City, MO- Congressman Dennis Moore, Third District of Kansas, was briefed about the Kansas City Healthy Start Project by program staff regarding the overall operations and current congressional legislation affecting the program. Congressman Moore will co-sign HR 3131 supporting Healthy Start legislation. On July 6, 2005, the Congressman visited Yarnis Salazar, a Hispanic single mother with two children in Wyandotte County regarding her participation in the Kansas City Healthy Start Program.

“We were very pleased by the Congressman’s visit. He has been a long-time supporter of our program and we truly appreciated his support and concern.” said Dr. Jean Craig, Healthy Start Project Director.

Healthy Start is a bi-state, home-visitation program that seeks to improve the health of pregnant women and babies and decrease infant mortality and racial disparities in health care in the Kansas City metropolitan area. It offers outreach, care coordination, depression screening, interconceptional care, and health education.

Recently, the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the award of $1.5 million dollars to the Kansas City Healthy Start Program over the next four years. This multi-million dollar federal grant will allow the Maternal and Child Health Coalition to continue their efforts and expand the Kansas City Healthy Start Program.

Kansas City Healthy Start has been a lifeline to hundreds of expectant mothers, infants and families in the urban core. Teams made up of outreach workers, family advocates and family support workers are working to get women into prenatal care as early in their pregnancy as possible. It involves earning the mother’s confidence, then offering resource information and guidance on such things as parenting, nutrition, relationships, housing and mental health services. The assistance can even include help with transportation and child care.

Maternal and Child Health Coalition promotes the health of mothers and children through community planning, education, advocacy and collaboration with organizations addressing infant mortality, immunization, childhood obesity, and child safety. More information about the Kansas City Healthy Start Program is available from Cesar Motts at Maternal and Child Health Coalition, 6400 Prospect, Suite 216, Kansas City, Missouri, 64132, office phone (816) 283-6242, ext. 249 or cellular phone (913) 636.4701. Photos are available at: www.mchc.net/press/congressmanmooore.html

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