Greater Harlem Healthy Start (GHHS)

The goal of Greater Harlem Healthy Start is to support families in achieving a healthy baby, and in reducing infant mortality and morbidity. GHHS serves women 13 to 44 years old, including pregnant women and parents with a child or children under the age of 18 months.

Program services include:

  • Reproductive Life Planning
  • Advocacy, interconceptional care, and prenatal care access
  • Safe Sleep and Parenting Education
  • Case Management
  • Health Education
  • Birth Support
  • Referrals for housing, public assistance, and WIC
  • Domestic Violence Support
  • Home visits and escorts to health and social services appointments

Service Areas/Zip Codes:  Healthy Start serves the East, Central and West Harlem areas within zip codes 10026, 10027, 10029, 10030, 10035, 10037, and 10039. We also serve those who may be displaced or living in shelters.

Within Healthy Start, there are several projects to further assist the community in achieving overall health.

Woman holding baby
HCAN woman talking in group

The Harlem Community Action Network (HCAN) is the community engagement component of the Greater Harlem Healthy Start Program. The HCAN aims to bring together community residents, consumers, providers and various stakeholders to help families in Harlem and Upper Manhattan live healthier, happier and more resilient lives. A key objective of the collective is to mobilize these providers, community stakeholders, consumers, and residents to work together in a unified manner for greater positive impact.

Vision: Through the lens of health equity, the HCAN will address the Social Determinants of Health to improve overall conditions in the community through a focus on a number of issues including but not limited to the following: Health Literacy, Domestic Violence/Mental Health/Trauma Informed Care, and Housing Inequality & Affordability.

 
Thrive

Thrive! Nutrition Project

This program facilitates weeks of nutrition counseling and education workshops.This includes:

  • Weekly exercise classes
  • Weigh-ins and healthy food demonstrations that assist with healthy eating
  • Documenting diet & exercise habits/goals
  • Wellness coaching and peer support group

These health and wellness interventions effectively reduce the incidence of overweight and obesity and improve future pregnancy outcomes among women.

Best Babies Zone

Best Babies Zone (BBZ) is a national initiative based at the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health. The BBZ approach is a multi-sector, community driven effort to reducing racial inequities in birth and life outcomes by mobilizing community residents and organizational partners to address the social determinants of health.

BBZ Harlem is comprised of specific areas in the 10027 zip code, particularly the Manhattanville and Grant Houses and the surrounding area.

BBZ Harlem aims to mobilize community residents, organizations, and community stakeholders at community gatherings to assess neighborhood needs and priorities and to work together on solutions. Partnerships include New York Presbyterian to serve the health needs of women and families in the zone. Other partnerships involve working with Sabree Educational Services to implement a Parent Empowerment Workshop Series focused on early childhood brain development and school readiness. Additional BBZ activities also include recruiting community resident leaders to participate in community asset mapping sessions, focus groups and other community outreach events to achieve our goals.

Mother holds baby