Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Are You Up-to-Date on Immunizations?

Staying up-to-date on immunizations protects our populations from serious communicable diseases. JCPH reminds parents, childcare and healthcare providers of the importance of preventing once common childhood diseases through vaccination. While many preventable disease levels are at or near record lows, there are still many under-immunized children, leaving the potential for outbreaks of disease. Many adolescents and adults are under-immunized as well, missing opportunities to protect themselves against diseases such as Hepatitis B, influenza, bacterial meningitis and pneumococcal disease. This is a good time to go over your immunization records and be sure everyone in your family is up to date.

JCPH has partnered with the Jeffco Public Schools to increase the number of children up to date on immunizations. JCPH has extended hours thru June 2012 to get kids caught up for the upcoming school year.  Call 303-232-6301 to make an appointment!


For a complete list of recommended vaccines, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm
  • Jefferson County Public Health offers Immunizations at our Arvada and Lakewood locations, please call to make an appointment: 303-232-6301 or visit: www.health.jeffco.us
  • Immunize for Good Colorado: www.immunizeforgood.com/
For more information and to take the What Vaccines Do You Need Quiz, visit:  http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/default.htm 

Calling all Moms! This May, Make a Connection with Public Health


May is a perfect month for honoring mothers and motherhood. Mother’s Day is May 13, 2012. Jefferson County Public Health offers a wide range of services to help mothers and their babies get off to a healthy start. Whether you are pregnant, have a newborn, toddler or perhaps several young children, connecting with public health programs and services can benefit your family’s health. The following programs are available to Jefferson County mothers and their children. 


Healthy Babies, Healthy Moms
  •  The Health Care Access Program assists people with accessing health care. Services include assistance with Medicaid application process and documentation; pregnancy tests and referrals to prenatal providers; and, information and referrals to appropriate JCPH programs. Call 303-239-7120 or 7144 or 7042. 

  • JCPH Resource Public Health Nurse can help with identifying and accessing community health care services. The Resource Nurse refers clients to various community services, provides patient education and assists with linking clients to appropriate healthcare, please call 303-239-7029.
·         Family Planning
Nearly four out of every 10 babies born in Colorado are the result of unintended pregnancy. Unintended pregnancy has prenatal and perinatal risks, risks for children, and risks for parents. JCPH’s Family Planning Program offers abstinence education as well as birth control for sexually active men and women. Learn more about options available and help to make every pregnancy in Jefferson County a planned pregnancy. 

  • NFP Partners for Healthy Families
    Are you ready for Mother’s Day? It is just around the corner on May 13th.  The Boppy Company (based in Golden, CO) is once again partnering with NFP to donate 500 Boppy® pillows to our NFP moms. This gift will total more than $20,000. Boppy plans to donate Boppy pillows to the following NFP agencies: Care Ring (Charlotte, NC), Guilford Child Development (Greensboro, NC), County of San Diego-East and South Public Health Centers (San Diego, CA) and Jefferson County Public Health (Lakewood, CO).
    • Many Jefferson County, first-time mothers could use the support and resources offered by a relationship with a public health nurse. Nurse Family Partnership Partners for Healthy Families offers free prenatal and early childhood nurse home visitations program for first time mothers who meet financial guidelines. Please call 303-239-7074.
  • Prenatal Plus Program
    The JCPH Prenatal Plus Program is a special case management program for pregnant women on Medicaid who may be at risk for negative maternal and infant health outcomes. Women are empowered to make lifestyle changes to positively impact their pregnancies and result in healthy babies.  They have access to a case manager, registered dietician, and mental health professional during home or office visits throughout their pregnancy and up to 2 months after their baby is born. Prenatal Plus services are in addition to a woman’s regular prenatal care.  Please call 303-232-6301.

  • Nurture with Nutrition
    JCPH Nutrition Services offers a wide array of services aimed at improving the nutrition status of Jefferson Count’s mothers and infants. WIC helps mothers make infant feeding choices and provides breastfeeding support, children's growth checkups and referrals to other health services. WIC (Women, Infants and Children) nutrition education, counseling and supplemental food program provides nutrition education and food vouchers to women and children ages 5 and under who meet financial guidelines. Please call 303-239-7143 in Lakewood or 303-275-7510 in Arvada.
    • Nutrition Services - Children with Special NeedsThe Nutrition Services for Children with Special Needs Program, provides individualized, specialized care to assist you and your child with feeding and growth issues. Judy Fowler, RD, CNSD, Community Nutritionist, 303-239-7146 or jfowler@jeffco.us
  • Health Care Program for Children with Special NeedsThe Health Care Program for Children and Youth with Special Needs (HCP) provides help to children with special health needs, their families and the service providers who work with them.  Professionals and families work together as a team to improve the outcome for children. HCP helps the families of children with, or at risk for, such conditions as asthma, autism, cancer, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, cystic fibrosis, developmental disabilities, diabetes, kidney disease, loss of hearing or sight, sickle cell anemia, TBI, and more. If you have questions about whether your child or a child you may know might qualify, please call 303-239-7006.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Infant Immunization Week is April 23-30, 2012 . . . Are Your Children Up-to-Date?

To help facilitate communication between health-care providers and parents about vaccines, vaccine safety, and vaccine-preventable diseases, CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians have developed a series of educational materials called Provider Resources for Vaccine Conversations with Parents. Check it out.
Jefferson County Public Health offers Immunizations at our Arvada andLakewood locations.  Please call 303-232-6301 or 303-239-7033 to schedule an appointment.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Today is Earth Day

The earth is like our body. We need to eat right and exercise – take care of our bodies. Likewise we need to respect and take care of the earth. Everyone has a right to a clean and healthy environment regardless of race ethnicity or socio-economic status. 



Our planet, our home is being neglected. Climate change continues unabated. It seems there's a new ecological disaster happening almost daily. This Earth Day it's time to mobilize the planet from the ground up to send a message that the Earth won't wait! Do a good deed for the earth today on Earth Day and everyday.

Earth Day Website
JCPH Recycling Resources

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Get ACTIVE in April

Spring is officially here and Jefferson County Public Health encourages everyone to make the most of it. Get outside and get active. Physical activity can help improve your health, make a commitment to move more this April! Check out the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines and the national “Let’s Move” campaign.