Defending Healthy Start’s Vital Programming – Again

When Cristal Torres gave birth to her first child last February, she endured multiple complications.

“I nearly died, and so did my child,” she says. They reached out to New Haven Healthy Start (NHHS) early on.

“Healthy Start has helped me every step of the way,” said Cristal, “with support, with transportation, housing, and every way that they can – especially mental support… and knowing that I'm not alone.”

Cristal and Joshua Torres shared their story at a press conference hosted by U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven on Friday. Watch the stream here.

On the Friday before Mother’s Day, DeLauro announced $367,000 in federal funding for New Haven Healthy Start, part of a five-year $5.5 million grant approved in 2024 when the program was recertified.

“I want to be really clear-eyed with the community,” said Foundation President & CEO Karen DuBois-Walton, “because this represents only one-third of the $1.1 million that is due to New Haven Healthy Start in 2026. We are grateful, but we are watching because we will keep advocating for every dollar that our families in this community are owed.”

DuBois-Walton added that the Presidential Budget for 2027 has proposed eliminating Healthy Start entirely. DeLauro promised to "fight to reverse these drastic cuts."

"I find this unacceptable. I know my colleagues will find it unacceptable," she said.

The recent funding release followed an advocacy campaign that included more than 6,000 letters calling for Healthy Start to continue. The national program to improve infant and maternal outcomes and to address racial health disparities was created in 1991 under President George H.W. Bush.

“Healthy Start is a very important program,” said Joshua Torres, Cristal’s husband. “A lot of people don’t have a solid foundation or a solid support system. Healthy Start changes all that.”

The Torreses are expecting their second child.

“I'm not just here for myself. I'm here as an advocate,” said Cristal. “If I've learned anything through Healthy Start [it] is to advocate for people, especially people in the system.”

“At a time when many communities across the country are concerned about the future of maternal and child health funding, moments like this matter. They remind families that they are seen, valued, and worthy of continued support," said NHHS Director Natasha Ray. "Especially as we head into Mother’s Day weekend, today serves as an important reminder that supporting mothers and families is not just a healthcare issue; it is a community responsibility."