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Resource Guide

Improving health and developmental outcomes for all Florida babies

Escambia County Healthy Start Resource Guide

Updated Spring 2023

This list contains several resources available to families in Escambia County, broken down into several different categories. If there is a resource you are aware of that is not in this list and you believe it should be, please contact Lakeila Robertson at Connect@healthystart.info

Adoptions

Adoptions

Bereavement

Bereavement

  • Community Health Northwest Florida

    • 850-436-4630

    • Licensed Clinical Social Workers provide behavioral therapy services to children and adults in our community and assist with navigating life stressors, processing traumatic events and gaining skills to cope with mental health symptoms.

  • The Compassionate Friends

    • 850-516-0810

    • Support group offered the second chapter Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8:00pm at Holy Cross Episcopal Church.

  • Light in the Darkness

    • 850-530-1955

    • As a branch of the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review, Healthy Start provides bereavement resources to families.

  • Olive Baptist Church Grief Support

    • 850-476-1932

    • This is a weekly support meeting for those grieving the loss of a loved one. Each session consists of a video, group discussion, and a workbook. Meetings are held once a week for thirteen weeks.

  • Return to Zero: H.O.P.E.

    • RTZ HOPE is a national non-profit organization that provides holistic support, resources, and community for all people who have experienced unimaginable loss during the journey to parenthood.

  • Valerie's House

    • 239-204-5804

    • Valerie's House provides open-ended peer support groups and activities for children to heal after a significant loss in their life.

Birthing Hospitals

Birthing Hospitals

Car Seat Checks and Installation

Car Seat Checks and Installation

  • Connect: Escambia County Healthy Start

    • 850-417-3690

  • Healthy Families​

    • 850-266-2700

  • Pensacola Fire Department​

    • 850-436-5200

  • 90 Works

    • 850-598-4120​

Child Development

Child Development

  • Child Find

    • 850-469-5426

    • Locates children who are potentially eligible for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and links them with needed services.

  • Early Steps

    • 850-416-7656

    • Offers services to eligible infants and toddlers birth to thirty-six months who are at risk for or show developmental delays.

  • Head Start/ Early Head Start​

    • 850-308-7165

    • Preschool programs designed􀀙 for children from birth to age five that prepare our youngest learners for the first day of kindergarten.

  • Healthy Families

    • 850-266-2700

    • Professional and compassionate Home Visitors will be your coaches and champions as you help your children realize their full potential.

Crisis Intervention

Crisis Intervention

  • Catholic Charities

    • 850-436-6425

    • Several different assistance programs ranging from emergency assistance, pregnancy services, and food assistance. Pregnancy assistance emphasizes adoption, but also referrals for medical care, housing, schooling, and no-cost counseling.

  • Department of Children and Families (DCF)

    • 850-595-8200 

    • Conducts an investigation of all reports received that allege abuse, neglect, exploitation, or neglect of a vulnerable adult. 

  • Favor House

    • 850-434-1177

    • Assistance for survivors of intimate partner violence. Hotline, support groups, emergency shelter. Also help with legal services.

  • Lakeview Mobile Response Team

    • Call: 1-866-517-7766 

    • Text: "Gulf' to 741741 ​

    • Lakeview's MRT provides 24/7 intervention and support and is available to respond within 60 minutes via telephone triage or in-person. 

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline

    • Call: 1-800-799-7233

    • Text: "START" to 88788

    • Phone and live chat. The  Hotline provides 24/7, free and confidential support to help survivors of domestic violence so they can live their lives free of abuse. Available in over 140 languages.​

  • National Sexual Assault Hotline

    • 1-800-656-4673​

    • Phone and live chat. The National Sexual Assault Hotline provides 24/7, free and confidential support to help survivors of sexual assault. Available in English and Spanish.

  • National Suicide Hotline

    • 1-800-273-8255 OR 988​

    • Phone and live chat. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

Daycare

Daycare

Financial Assistance

Financial Assistance

  • ACCESS Florida

    • 1-866-762-2237

    • Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), TCA for caregivers, Optional State Supplementation (for facilities costs), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

  • ​Catholic Charities

    • 850-436-6425

    • Several different assistance programs ranging financial assistance, food, prescriptions, housing, and utilities assistance.

  • Community Action Program​

    • 850-438-4021

    • Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSSP)-To apply for the program, applicants must be eligible based on household size and income.

  • Department of Revenue/ Child Support

    • 850-488-5437

    • Child support services.

  • Persons with Disabilities Agency

    • 850-595-8351​

    • Assists with connecting disabled people to benefits.

  • Salvation Army

    • 850-432-1501​

    • Emergency Financial Assistance available for eligible people.

  • Samaritan Hands

    • 850-438-8907​

    • Services provided include: food, clothing, shoes, blankets, utility assistance, and much more.

  • Social Security

    • 1-877-505-4550​

    • Assistance with disability, SSI (supplementary income), and social security benefits.

  • United Ministries

    • 850-433-2333

    • United Ministries helps families in crisis in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties with financial assistance for rent, mortgage, and utility bills.

Food and Nutrition

Food and Nutrition

  • Feeding the Gulf Coast

    • 850-626-1332

    • Offers free hunger-relief programs for every population, and every food and nutritional need.

    • Find a food bank near you HERE on their website.

  • Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen

    • 850-438-7616

  • Manna Food Bank​

    • 850-432-2053

    • Offers Emergency Food Assistance Program at their pantry and through 17 specialty programs with 22 community partners.

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

    • 850-300-4323​

    • SNAP provides nutritional support for low-income seniors, people with disabilities living on fixed incomes, and other individuals and families with low incomes.

  • Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

    • 850-595-6670​

    • WIC provides the following at no cost: healthy foods, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding support, and referrals for health care and community services. 

GED/ High School Diploma

GED/ High School Diploma

Housing

Housing

  • Habitat for Humanity

    • ​850-434-5456

    • Works together with families, local communities, volunteers and partners from around the world so that more people are able to live in affordable and safe homes. 

  • Opening Doors

    • 850-439-3009

    • Rental and utility payment assistance.

  • Section 8​

    • 850-858-0350

    • The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV) is a federal housing assistance program managed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and administered at the local level by public housing agencies.

Insurance Access

Insurance Access

  • ACCESS Florida

    • 1-866-762-2237

    • Medicaid application for pregnant people and low-income people in the state of Florida. Medicaid plans include:

  • Florida Kid Care

    • 1-888-540-5437

    • Through Florida Kid Care, the State of Florida offers health insurance for children from birth through age 18, even if one or both parents are working.

  • 90 Works​

    • 850-598-4120

    • Navigators provide any consumer with the application and enrollment or re-enrollment, and assistance in selecting a qualified health plan to the Federally facilitated and State Partnership Marketplaces for health insurance.

Legal Services

Legal Services

  • Emerald Coast Legal Aid

    • 850-432-2336

    • Free legal services and advice specializing in domestic violence, foreclosure, family law, and elder law.

  • Legal Services of North Florida

    • 850-432-8222

    • Non-profit corporation created by an Act of Congress to ensure low­-income people have equal access to the courts nationwide. Caters to cases involving Family Law, Housing, Public Benefits, Employment, Education, and Health Care issues.

  • U.S. Public Defender

    • 850-595-4100

    • Public defenders ensure access that to indigent clients who cannot afford private counsel have equal access to quality defense services on federal court cases.

Low Cost Dental Services
Low Cost Medical Services

Low Cost Dental Services

  • Community Health Northwest Florida

    • 850-912-8880

    • Community Health's Fairfield Dental specializes in adult and pediatric dental care.

  • Health and Hope

    • 850-434-8162

    • Offers services for uninsured and underinsured Florida residents. Evaluates patient's oral health, schedules and performs any necessary dental procedures, then places them in an on-going oral hygiene program.

  • Pensacola State College Dental Clinic

    • 850-434-2236

    • The Dental Hygiene Clinic at Pensacola State College offers low-cost preventive dental hygiene services to the public. 

Low Cost Medical Services

  • Community Health Northwest Florida

    • 850-436-4630​

    • A non-profit, equal-opportunity community health center that offers low-cost healthcare services in Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, and surrounding areas.

  • Community Health Women's Care Center

    • 850-435-4352​

    • Community Health's women's care specializes in OB/GYN services

  • Florida Department of Health

    • 850-595-6500​​

    • Family Health Clinic, Family Planning, Breast and cervical cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, Immunizations, WIC (Women, Infants, & Children), Tobacco Free Florida, Vital Statistics (birth and death certificates), Safe Kids, etc. 

  • Health and Hope

    • 850-479-4456

    • Offers services for uninsured and underinsured Florida residents. Services include but are not limited to: preventative and primary medical care, health education, medications, women's health services, full laboratory services, mental health counseling, and specialty care.​​

  • Lions Club

    • 850-438-8989

    • Lions Club partners with medical professionals and community leaders to screen young children, primary school students, and adults to identify those at risk for vision loss.

  • St. Joseph Catholic Church Medical Clinic

    • 850-434-8162

    • St. Joseph Catholic Church offers medical and dental care for uninsured, low-income patients by appointment only.​

Mental Health/Substance Use

Mental Health/ Substance Use

  • Access Behavioral Health

    • 1-866-477-6725

    • ABH has developed a comprehensive, community-based system of care by contracting with experienced providers􀀝􀀞􀀟 offering evidence-based mental health and substance use services.

  • Al Anon Family

    • 1-888-425-2666

    • The primary purpose of Al-Anon is to provide support to the friends and families of alcoholics.

  • Alcoholics Anonymous

    • 850-433-4191

    • Al-Anon is a mutual support group of peers who share their experience in applying the Al-Anon principles to problems related to the effects a problem drinker in their lives. It is not group therapy and is not led by a counselor or therapist.

  • Lakeview

    • 850-469-3500

    • Provides behavioral health services, employment assistance, and connections with Northwest Florida Health Network through telehealth and in-person appointments.

  • Lakeview Community Action Team

    • 850-418-2333

    • Lakeview's Community Action Team (CAT) serves children in homes, schools and daycare settings to help lower the risk of hospitalization, reduce contact with law enforcement and improve functioning within the home, school and community settings.

  • Lakeview Florida Assertive Community Treatment

    • 850-202-0388

    • The FACT team includes specialists from a variety of mental health and substance misuse service areas, such as psychiatry, nursing, counseling, case management, substance use treatments and vocational services.

  • Women and Family Intervention Services (WFIS/WISE)

    • 850-433-9800​

    • The goal of WFIS is to provide services that support the health, safety, well­being, and recovery of parents with substance-use disorders.

Pregnancy Support

Pregnancy Support

  • Alpha Center

    • 850-479-4391

    • Free pregnancy testing, educational  classes, and baby supplies.

  • Connect: Escambia County Healthy Start

    • 850-417-3690

    • Connect helps pregnant women, caregivers and families with young children by providing a one-stop entry point for needed services, such as education and support in childbirth, newborn care, parenting, child development, food and nutrition, mental health and financial self-­sufficiency.

  • Safe Harbor

    • 850-439-2511

    • Safe Harbor Pregnancy Medical Center provides health services to women in Pensacola to help with unplanned pregnancies.

Prenatal/ Postpartum Support

Prenatal/ Postpartum Support

  • Postpartum Support

    • 1-800-944-4773

    • The PSI Helpline is a toll-free telephone number anyone can call to get basic information, support, and resources.

  • Safe Haven for Newborns

    • 1-877-767-2229

    • Help for pregnant teens and women of all ages, from the time you find out you are pregnant and throughout your pregnancy, and after the baby is born.

  • Text4Baby​

    • English: Text "BABY" to 511411

    • Spanish: Text "BEBE" to 511411

Shelters

Shelters

  • Favor House

    • 850-434-1177

    • Assistance for survivors of intimate partner violence. Hotline, support groups, emergency shelter. Also help with legal services.

  • Heavenly Blessings​​

    • 850-469-9418

    • Temporary shelter and services to meet basic needs of individuals who have fallen on hard times and have nowhere left to go.

  • HER Foundation

    • 850-944-9561​

    • Provides shelter and restore hope, honor, and dignity in every female veteran who seeks comfort, support, and assistance through our programs.

  • LifeBuilder Recovery Program

    • ​850-436-7868​

    • Overnight services are for men only.

  • ReEntry Alliance Pensacola (REAP)​

    • 850-332-6677

    • Individuals returning from a period of incarceration must make sure they have access to basic resources in order to make a successful transition. These include: Government Identification, Housing, Food, Healthcare, Transportation.

Statewide Agencies

Statewide Agencies

  • Florida Abuse Hotline 

    • 1-800-962-2873 

    • The Florida Abuse Hotline accepts reports 24/7 of known or suspected child or vulnerable adult abuse, neglect, or abandonment. 

  • Florida Association for Community Action

    • 325 John Knox Road Bldg F-210, Tallahassee, FL 32303 

    • 850-224-4774

    • The Florida Association for Community Action, Inc. (FACA) serves Florida's network of Community Action Agencies by providing training, technical assistance, and advocacy. They also work to assist with the reduction of poverty in Florida.

  • Florida Children's Forum 

    • 2807 Remington Green Cir., Tallahassee, FL 32308 

    • 1-888-352-4453

    • Florida Children's Forum provides important information and assistance to families and children in Florida through a number of programs and services.

      •  

  • Florida ELKS Children's Therapy Services 

    • 1-800-523-1673

    • dcorson@floridaelkscts.org

    • Florida Elks Children's Therapy Services provides in-home physical therapy and occupational therapy to Florida children.

  • ​Florida Partnership to End Domestic Violence

    • 1-800-500-1119 

    • The mission of the Florida Partnership to End Domestic Violence (FPEDV) is to create a violence free world by empowering women and children through the elimination of personal and institutional violence and oppression against all people. 

  • Florida Poison Control 

    • 1-800-222-1222 ​

    • Florida's resource for poison prevention and care. 

Tobacco Cessation

Tobacco Cessation

  • Healthy Start

    • 850-417-3690​

    • One-on-one tobacco cessation program for parents who are pregnant and those with children 0-3

  • Tobacco Free Florida

    • 1-877-822-6669

    • Tobacco Free Florida offers free tools and services, including 24/7 access to call a trained Quit Coach, online resources to build personalized quit plans, and a 2-week starter kit of nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges that is mailed to you.

  • West Florida Area Health Education Center

    • 850-398-6965​​

    • Multiple smoking cessation groups offered both in-person and virtually, and includes working with trained Tobacco Treatment Specialists.

Transportation

Transportation

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