Healthy Start Brooklyn - NYC Health

Health

Promoting and Protecting the City's Health


Health TopicsNeighborhood HealthEmergency Prep

Neighborhood Health Services
Brooklyn Health Services
Harlem Health Services
Bronx Health Services
Citywide Doula Initiative
School Wellness
New York City Teens Connection
Shop Healthy
Violence: A Health Issue
Public Health Services
Public Health Corps

Neighborhood Health Services

Brooklyn Health Services

Harlem Health Services

Bronx Health Services

Citywide Doula Initiative

School Wellness

New York City Teens Connection

Shop Healthy

Violence: A Health Issue

Public Health Services

Public Health Corps


Healthy Start Brooklyn

Healthy Start Brooklyn provides a variety of support programs and classes for expectant and new parents who live in Brooklyn. You can get education and support about pregnancy, childbirth, parenting, breastfeeding, fatherhood and healthy living.

For information about upcoming virtual services and activities, see the event calendar:

Services and Activities Calendar

The following services and activities are offered weekly. Due to COVID-19, some services and activities are held virtually, in-person, or both. Most classes are in English, but if language services are needed, contact the center at least 72 hours before the class. Click on any activity that interests you to learn more.

Tuesday

Childbirth Education: noon to 2 p.m.

Fatherhood Development: 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Thursday

Fatherhood Development: 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

ROSE (Reach Out, Stay Strong: Essentials): 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Childbirth Education: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Friday

Cultivating Grace Support Group: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday

Family Foundations Workshop: 10 a.m. to noon

Various

Remembering You, Remembering Us (English and Spanish)

If you are interested in joining any of the below programs, you can enroll online, call 844-919-1123 or email HealthyStartBrooklyn@health.nyc.gov.

Expand AllCollapse All

Events

Infant Safety and CPR

Location: Bedford Health Center, 485 Throop Avenue, Brooklyn

Join this non-certifying class to learn about infant CPR, infant breathing emergencies, safe sleep and home safety.

Email HealthyStartBrooklyn@health.nyc.gov for information on upcoming classes.

Newborn Care

Location: Bedford Health Center, 485 Throop Avenue, Brooklyn

Join us for a two-part class to learn about:

Baby basics

Bonding and attachment

Adjusting to your newborn

What to expect after the newborn period.

Email HealthyStartBrooklyn@health.nyc.gov for information on upcoming classes.

Pregnancy and Prenatal Support and Classes

Doula Services

Doulas are trained birth assistants who provide non-medical support to you and your partner before, during and after your child’s birth. The doula can answer your questions, support you emotionally and physically, and help you have a safe and satisfying experience.

Get a By My Side Doula

If you live in Central or Eastern Brooklyn (ZIP codes 11203,11206, 11207, 11208, 11212, 11213, 11221 or 11233), you may qualify for free doula services through Healthy Start Brooklyn's By My Side Birth Support Program. For more information about By My Side, call 718-637-5231 or email HealthyStartBrooklyn@health.nyc.gov.

If you do not live in those neighborhoods, you can still find out about free or low-cost doulas and other resources in your area.

Enroll in Doula Services

Become a By My Side Doula

If you are a certified birth doula who would like to join the By My Side Birth Support Program, you must have attended at least 10 births to be considered.

The program also prefers doulas who live in Central or Eastern Brooklyn. There is a special need for doulas who are fluent in Spanish or Haitian Creole.

To apply, email HealthyStartBrooklyn@health.nyc.gov.

ROSE (Reach Out, Stay Strong: Essentials)

This program provides tips on how to take care of yourself while pregnant and feel your best after the baby is born. The four sessions help you learn to:

Avoid postpartum depression and “the baby blues”

Communicate what you need

Manage stress

Practice self-care

Enroll in ROSE – Reach Out, Stay Strong: Essentials for Mothers of Newborns

Childbirth Education

Available on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This multi-session class series will teach you about:

Signs and stages of labor

Breathing and relaxation

Breastfeeding your new baby

How your partner can support you

To enroll, visit the Eventbrite page:

Virtual Childbirth Education (English)

Family Foundations

Family Foundations is a free 9-week program for expectant and new parents in Brooklyn. The program supports parents as they:

Build teamwork

Reduce stress

Strengthen relationships

Family Foundation is open to couples and to parents who are not in a relationship with each other.

Enroll in the next cycle of Family Foundations

Remembering You, Remembering Us

Remembering You, Remembering Us sessions are for any woman, man, family member or supporter who has experienced and/or been impacted by infertility, pregnancy, infant loss, birth related trauma and/or maternal mortality.

Classes in English:

Classes in Spanish:

Cultivating Grace

This biweekly mental health support group is open to all parents from pregnancy through postpartum.

Learn how to stay mentally healthy

Explore wellness techniques

Get peer support

Enroll in the Cultivating Grace Support Group

New Parent Support and Classes

Fathers' Group

This program helps men maintain healthy relationships and improve their parenting skills. It also provides referrals to job training, education, financial literacy and other support services.

Enroll in the Fathers' Group

Parenting Skills Workshop

This interactive class teaches you the skills you need to understand your child and help with their development. It is open to all expectant parents, caregivers, grandparents or parents of a child up to three years old.

The Parenting Skills Workshop is offered through a partnership with the Caribbean Women's Health Association. To enroll, email YGordon@cwha.org or call 929-441-7125.

Before and After Birth: Protecting Your Emotional Health

Dates: First Monday of each month, noon to 1 p.m.

This one-hour workshop will teach you to identify signs of postpartum anxiety and baby blues and get the support you may need to feel better.

Learn stress and anxiety triggers

Discuss protective tools

Practice coping strategies with others

Enroll on the Eventbrite page or contact HealthyStartBrooklyn@health.nyc.gov

Community Action Network

The Community Action Network works to promote wellness and provide strategies for handling stress, which has been linked to maternal health and well-being. It brings together community residents, community-based organizations and City agencies that live or work in Brownsville, East New York, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and the surrounding areas. If you would like to get involved, email HealthyStartBrooklyn@health.nyc.gov with “Community Action Network” in the subject line.

Bereavement Support

For those who have lost a pregnancy or a child, Healthy Start Brooklyn offers Remembering You, Remembering Us, a free virtual support group with occasional in-person gatherings.

Enroll in Bereavement Support