2021 HealthySteps
Annual Report

HealthySteps is a program of ZERO TO THREE, the nation’s leading nonprofit dedicated to ensuring all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life.

Together with our national network of sites, we transform the promise of pediatric primary care by promoting nurturing parenting and healthy development for babies and toddlers, so they are prepared for school and life.

We’re committed to doing everything we can to ensure that all our children come out of the other side of this pandemic stronger than ever. And we look forward to having you join us in our effort.

SPOTLIGHT

HealthySteps works to serve at least 1 million children by 2032. Here's our progress.

350,000+

children reached

213

sites in 2021

49

new sites onboarded by HealthySteps

8

Department of Defense sites

1,040

professionals trained in 2021

25

states and DC in 2021

95%

reporting sites administered

developmental screenings

85%

reporting sites administered

social-emotional screenings

97%

reporting sites administered

maternal depression screenings

Hear from a HealthySteps caregiver on how HealthySteps specialist Bernadette

supported her foster son and their family when he entered care: 

HOW CAN YOU

ZERO TO THREE’s HealthySteps program provides early childhood development support to families where they are most likely to access it – the pediatric primary care office.

Join

Add HealthySteps to your practice. Start here if you want to bring innovation to your pediatric primary care practices. 

Donate

Your donation helps to make sure all babies have access to the quality care, services, and support they need to thrive. 

Partner

There are many ways to support families in pediatric primary care. We would love to hear how we can partner with you. 

SPOTLIGHT

Our newest tool is designed for HealthySteps sites to bring cost savings data to the valuable services they provide. The online Return on Investment Calculator is accurate, easy to use, and made exclusively for the HealthySteps network.

SPOTLIGHT

Almost all families take their babies to see a pediatric primary care provider. HealthySteps partners with pediatric clinics to supercharge the impact of these regular visits. Early data from our pilot sites demonstrates how these powerful partnerships are reducing the health equity gap and improving mother and child well-being. 

Unlike most children on Medicaid, most children at HealthySteps sites will receive 6 well-child visits by 15 months. Children at HealthySteps practices have well-child attendance comparable to children utilizing commercial insurance, closing the health equity gap.

Maternal depression is the top complication of pregnancy and childbirth. HealthySteps requires all mothers be screened for maternal depression and ensures mothers receive referrals and follow-up as necessary, which influences the mental health & well-being of both caregiver and child.

By age 3, HealthySteps children have a lower prevalence of obesity compared to all children in the state. Children who are overweight/obese at age 3 are likely to be overweight in adolescence.

HealthySteps Specialists support breastfeeding continuation/duration which is a strategy known to prevent obesity. More mothers at HealthySteps practices continue breastfeeding than other mothers.

HealthySteps requires all children receive screenings specific to social-emotional development.

SPOTLIGHT

HealthySteps Family Advisors provide important feedback on their experience to enhance our

program for all families.

Liz Foley

My name is Liz. I live in Brooklyn, NY, and my family participates in the HealthySteps program at the Community Healthcare Network of Crown Heights. We have been a HealthySteps family for 4 months (since our son was born). What I like most about HealthySteps is having a developmental specialist I can call with questions. 

Shamyra King, Family Advisor, New York

"HealthySteps has helped my family grow and has been a pivotal support system for myself and my two girls. HealthySteps is family to us."