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Heat Emergency in Boston
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Mayor Wu announced a heat emergency in the City of Boston through Wednesday, July 17. Cooling centers will be open at 14 BCYF community centers Monday through Wednesday, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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Boston Healthy Start Initiative

The Boston Health Start Initiative (BHSI) provides direct support to pregnant and parenting women, children and families. It provides care coordination, connection to resources, health education, and advocacy.

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The Boston Health Start Initiative (BHSI) coordinates the Community Action Network (CAN). CAN is a community coalition focused on reducing inequities in infant mortality and poor birth outcomes through policy strategies.

Services

BHSI is a free and voluntary program. It is open to self-identified black women in Boston who are pregnant or parenting children up to the age of 18 months.

Women enrolled in BHSI work one on one with staff called "Family Partners". Family Partners support participants in having healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.

Other ways Family Partners provide support include:

  • Discussing information related to healthy pregnancies, infant health, and parenting. This includes prenatal nutrition, breastfeeding and infant feeding, development, and more
  • Connecting women to resources and programs to access food, employment, housing, child care, and other support as needed
  • Helping coordinate medical care and other services such as father engagement and support, home visiting nurses, WIC nutritional support, and more
  • ​Supporting families to advocate for their needs

Join us to reduce racial inequities in infant mortality and poor birth outcomes in Boston.

Community Action Network

BHSI Sites

Bowdoin Street Health Center (617) 754-0101
Codman Square Health Center (617) 822-8387
Healthy Baby / Healthy Child Program (617) 534-5832
Mattapan Community Health Center (617) 898-9063

Whittier Street Health Center

 (617) 989-3024

(617) 989-3070

Resources

Resources
Healthy Baby Healthy Child
Community Action Network
Father Friendly
Welcome Family
Provide Your Feedback
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