The bi-state areas of the greater Kansas City have a high rate of poor birth and infant outcomes, especially among the African American community, which makes up a large percentage of the population served by Kansas City Healthy Start (KCHS).

In addition, poverty, child abuse and neglect, low income, unemployment, education attainment, sexually transmitted diseases and language barriers are all areas of concern.

As a program of the Mother & Child Health Coalition of Greater Kansas City, Kansas City Healthy Start (KCHS) is designed to decrease the infant mortality rate, eliminate healthcare disparities and improve the health of pregnant women, infants and families.

KCHS provides the core services of outreach and participant recruitment, case management, health education, screening for perinatal depression, interconceptional continuity of care and fathering issues.

  • Free monthly childbirth classes to pregnant participants and their families.
  • Providing additional training and education for new and expectant mothers, as well as professional providers in areas such as nutrition, parenting, family planning and smoking cessation.
  • Pinpointing gaps in existing prenatal and child health services and identifying barriers preventing infants and expectant mothers from receiving proper care.
  • Coordinating and linking existing prenatal and child health programs allowing for improved case management.
  • The Dedicated Dads program, which was developed to connect fathers and men to community resources that help them become better role models for their children and families.

To be eligible for Kansas City Healthy Start, you must be pregnant or raising an infant under the age of two and reside in one of the following zip-code areas:

Missouri: 64106, 64108, 64109, 64110, 64124, 64127, 64128, 64130
Kansas: 66101, 66102, 66103, 66104, 66105 or 66106.

Contact

Jean Craig
Kansas City Healthy Start Project Director
816-283-6242 (Extension 225)
jcraig@mchc.net

Pat Martin
Clinical Nurse Family Advocate
816-283-6242 (Extension 252)
pmartin@mchc.net

Tyrone Yarbrough
Community Mobilizer, Dedicated Dads
816-283-6242 (Extension 240)
tyarbrough@mchc.net

MISSOURI

Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics

Kansas City Healthy Start
3101 Broadway, Ste. 575
Kansas City, MO 64111-2762

English-speaking team: (816) 234-3363
Spanish-speaking team: (816) 983-6482

Truman Medical Center Hospital Hill
Kansas City Healthy Start
2301 Holmes, Social Work Dept.
Kansas City, MO 64108
(816) 404-3215

KANSAS

Project EAGLE
Kansas City Healthy Start
400 State Ave. #400
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 281-2648