Prenatal Plus . . . Choose to have a healthy pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of change, growth, discovery and plenty of questions. Prenatal Plus can help you, your baby and your family in a variety of areas, including nutrition, cutting back or quitting smoking and preparing for labor and delivery.

Prenatal Plus can also help you find and access community resources. Whether you're expecting your first child or your fifth, the Prenatal Plus Program can provide you with valuable information and support.

The Prenatal Plus team consists of a Public Health Nurse Care Coordinator, a Registered Dietician and a Mental Health Professional. Women are seen in the office and at home for visits throughout the pregnancy and for up to two months after the baby is born.

Prenatal Plus team members empower women to make lifestyle choices that positively affect their pregnancies and result in healthier babies.
Confidential Services

• Prenatal Plus staff can talk privately with you about: 
• Medicaid 
• Tobacco use 
• Healthy eating 
• Doctor's visits 
• Birth control methods 
• A safe place to stay 
• How to care for baby 
• Personal problems and other things important to you, your family and your baby. 

For more information, please contact the Prenatal Plus program at 303-232-6301 or visit our website.

Health Insurance 101 - Understanding Health Insurance in Colorado

No one likes to be sick and paying the health care bill can be even worse, especially if you don’t have health insurance. Health care is expensive and the costs keep going up. For those without medical insurance to help pay, a serious injury or illness can be absolutely devastating. No coverage can leave you with high health care bills you cannot afford, too little or the wrong kind of coverage, and you won’t have enough protection.

If you live in Colorado, Connect for Health Colorado is the Health Insurance Marketplace to serve you. Instead of HealthCare.gov, you’ll use the Connect for Health Colorado website to apply for coverage, compare plans, and enroll. You can apply as early as October 1, 2013. Visit Connect for Health Colorado now to learn more.

Learn more on this web site.

What Does Your Insurance Cover?

ATTENTION SEXUALLY ACTIVE and RESPONSIBLE LADIES!

Many of us were taught at an early age to take charge of our health, our bodies and our minds. That is why many of today’s sexually active women rely on family planning services.  Unfortunately, for so many women the pocketbook gets in the way of making responsible choices when it comes to the use and availability of contraception choices.  Getting on a birth control pill, the patch, an IUD or any other female form of birth control involves visiting a healthcare provider.  Even if you have insurance, contraception and family planning services may not be covered. 

Under the The Affordable Care Act, insured women are meant to have better coverage and access to  preventive services including birth control.  Not necessarily. Recently, a friend of mine found out that her policy does not and will not cover contraception.  During a recent visit to get birth control services for her college-aged daughters, who are covered under her plan, she was told that despite having insurance there was no form of contraception that would be covered.  She was confused.  How is better and more affordable access possible if your plan denies coverage?

Upon further research, my friend discovered that because her insurance provider, through her spouse’s employment, was faith based they were exempt from the Affordable Care Act’s requirement.  In fact, any plan sponsored by certain religious employers or group health insurance in connection with such plans, do not have to cover contraceptive services.  So with health insurance that doesn’t cover contraception, my friend and many others are left wondering how best to take care of their and their children’s reproductive health needs.

Fortunately, Jefferson County Public Health does provide family planning services, including contraception to individuals regardless of race, religion, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or marital status.  All services are confidential and fees are based on your ability to pay- no one will be denied services for inability to pay. 

Calling your insurance company to find out whether or not you are covered is the first step when it comes to taking charge of your reproductive health.  If you find that you are not covered, rest assured that Jefferson County Public Health can help.  For more information on Jefferson County Public Health clinic and other services, please call 303-232-6301.

Health Care Access

Finding yourself without health care can be a scary thing. Jefferson County Public Health is here to help. There are programs to assist you and your family get the care you need.

If you are Pregnant and need immediate prenatal care- Please call 303-232-6301 for Presumptive Eligibility. This program, based on eligibility, can get you the care you need while you are waiting to be approved for Medicaid.

If you are Pregnant and have children- Please call Jefferson County Human Services department at 303- 271-1388 for information on how to get your family covered with Medicaid. While you are waiting for Medicaid approval, you might consider applying for Presumptive Eligibility (listed above) so that your unborn baby can get a healthy start.

If you are already on Medicaid but need help finding medical, dental, vision, or mental health care– Contact Healthy Communities at 303-239-7041. They can assist you in finding the correct care for you and your family.

If you have children and have applied for Medicaid but have been declined- You may be eligible for CHP+. This program can help you get medical care for your children under the ages of 18. There is a small annual fee and co-pays are based on factors such as income and family size. Please call 303-751-9051 for more information.

There is also help for all children enrolled in the R-1 School District. All children who are actively enrolled can apply to get Medicaid for their families through school. For more information, please call 303-982-7276.

Empowering Pregnant Women to have a Healthy Pregnancy and a Healthy Baby . . . Prenatal Plus and Nurse Family Partnership

Prenatal Plus is for Medicaid eligible women, whether it’s their first or fifth child. A public health nurse, dietitian and/or mental health specialist will meet with mother during home or office visits throughout the pregnancy and up to 2 months after the baby is born. The team supports expecting moms in setting goals to positively impact the health of their baby and their family.

JCPH Nurse Family Partnership is for women having their first baby. A public health nurse will visit mother in her home during pregnancy and until baby is 2 years old. The nurse will help mother learn about pregnancy and parenting while helping mother set and achieve goals.

Please call 303-232-6301 to talk with a nurse about either of these programs. 

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.

Earth Day... A note from Environmental Health

Hi, I’m Dr Jim Dale, Director of Environmental Health here at Jefferson County Public Health in Golden, Colorado. 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. American Indian Chief Seattle got it right, He noted, “Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.” Do a good deed for the earth today on Earth Day and everyday.