Right From the Start is a contracted program through the WV Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health whose goal is to reduce the rate of infant mortality in West Virginia.   An array of services is offered to pregnant women and their infants through Burlington’s offices in Beckley and Keyser.  Good prenatal care is promoted through care coordination to insure that pregnant women have access to health care, knowledge of good nutrition, education on health, parenting and related issues, and referral to necessary social services. 

Clients access the program through referral from their health care provider and/or through application through their county Department of Health and Human Resources Office.  Raleigh County residents are served by the Beckley office (Telephone: (304) 252-8508) and the counties of Hardy and Mineral are served through the Keyser office.

What Are We?

Right From the Start provides services to pregnant women to ensure that they eat the right foods, live safely, and maintain regular medical visits so that mother and baby have healthy outcomes.

What Do We Do?

• Help you arrange care for yourself and your baby.
• Assist with your medical care if you have no insurance or limited benefits
• and are not eligible for Medicaid but meet certain other requirements.
• Arrange for valuable services besides your medical care:
• Childbirth classes
• Smoking Cessation Classes  
• Parenting classes
• Classes on eating healthier for you and your baby
• Transportation to medical appointments through the (ART) Access
• to Rural Transportation

Who Qualifies?

There are no resource limits for participation in the Right From the Start Program (RFTS). You may own a home or a car and still be eligible for RFTS services.

To receive services from Right From the Start, you must be pregnant, reside in the State of West Virginia, and have a current, active Medicaid Card, Medical coverage through OMCH, PAAS or Health Plan.

Once you receive a Medicaid or an OMCH card, medical care for your pregnancy and your delivery will be covered even if your income increases. Children less than one year old may also be eligible for Right From The Start services.

For information call 304-788-2342 and ask for Alleda Taylor or email her ataylor@bumfs.org.