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 13^th.  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 Needs. The 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.