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     Healthy Start—Ashtabula County, Ohio:    call 440-998-1110 or 1-800-935-0242

                

Ohio offer free and low cost health coverage to low-income families, pregnant women, and children up to age 19.

Covered Medical Services include:

• Vision Care
• Hospital Care 
• Dental Care 
• Doctor Visits 
• Hospital Care 
• Immunizations
• Health checkups, including preventative care
• Prenatal Care
• Hearing Test 
• Delivery of your Baby 
• Prescriptions 
• Substance Abuse 
• Mental Health 
• Other Services

Healthy Families (HF): Health coverage for the entire family with income at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Healthy Start (HS): Health coverage for children up to age 19 and pregnant women with a household income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Pregnant women eligible during entire pregnancy and for 60 days postpartum. Babies born to a mother receiving HS are eligible for free health coverage for 1 year. Other health insurance does not affect eligibility.

Healthy Start Expansion (HSE): Health coverage for children up to age 19 with a household income between 151% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Guaranteed coverage for 12 months, regardless of income changes. A small annual premium may be required—$25 per child, with a maximum of $75 per family. Cannot have existing health insurance.

Income Comparison Chart

If your adjusted gross monthly income is the same or lower than the numbers on the chart for your family size, you may be eligible. If your income is slightly higher, you are encouraged to apply.

Family Size	HF 100%+	HS 0-150%+	HSE 151-200%+
1	$716	$1074	$1432
2	$968	$1452	$1935
3	$1220	$1829	$2439
4	$1471	$2207	$2942
5	$1723	$2584	$3445

* These figures are based on the Federal Poverty Guidelines effective 02/16/01

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The WIC Program Mission :
To safeguard the health of low-income women, infants,  & children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, 
information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care.
The following benefits are provided to WIC participants:

• Supplemental nutritious foods 
• Nutrition education and counseling at WIC clinics 
• Screening and referrals to other health, welfare and social services
   

Program Delivery

WIC is not an entitlement program as Congress does not set aside funds to allow every eligible individual to participate in the program. WIC is a Federal grant program for which Congress authorizes a specific amount of funds each year for the program. WIC is

• administered at the Federal level by FNS 
• administered by 87 WIC state agencies, through approximately 46,000 authorized retailers.  
• WIC operates through 2,000 local agencies in 10,000 clinic sites, in 50 State health departments, 32 Indian Tribal Organizations, American Samoa, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. 

Examples of where WIC services are provided:
county health departments
hospitals
mobile clinics (vans)
community centers
schools
public housing sites
migrant health centers and camps
Indian Health Service facilities

How to Apply to Participate in WIC

To find out about WIC offices serving your area, click here.

To read WIC's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), click here.

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HELP ME GROW

1-800-755-4769

Any birth parent who wants to raise a baby but doesn’t know how, may also call the Help Me Grow helpline to get information about caring for and raising children

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Ohio’s Safe Havens For Newborns—An alternative to leaving infants in unsafe places.

What is Safe Havens for Newborns?

Not all women who get pregnant are ready to raise a child. Sometimes they see no options except to abandon the baby. Safe Havens provides a new option. It allows a birth parent to leave a newborn infant (less than 72 hours old) with:

A medical worker in a hospital;

A medical worker at a fire department or other emergency service organization; or

A peace officer at a law enforcement agency.

If an infant is left with a person at one of these places, and has not been abused, the parent will face no legal consequences for making this choice.

Who can take a newborn to a Safe Haven?

The birth parent (mother or father) can take a child to a Safe Haven. The law provides protection from prosecution only for the child’s parents.

Does the birth parent have to call before taking an infant to a Safe Haven?

No. A birth parent may take a newborn to a Safe Haven at any time until the child is 72 hours, or three day, old.

What information will the birth parent have to provide?

The birth parent is not required to provide any information, including his or her name. However, it would help the baby if the birth parent chose to provide basic health information. The birth parent will be offered a form to guide them in providing the most important health information.

What happens next?

If the baby needs medical attention, it will be provided. The professional staff person who accepts the baby will contact the county children services agency; and the baby will be placed in an adoptive home. There are many families who want to adopt a baby.

When a parent cannot care for an infant, leaving the baby at a Safe Haven may be the best choice for the child. If the birth parent is not sure about this decision, an adoption social worker can help by providing information on available options and services for birth parents and their babies. Information is also available by calling:

For more information about Safe Havens, call:

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Office for Children and Families,

Bureau of Family Services, (614) 466-9274