PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Public Health Nursing Programs

Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) • 324-1697
Public health nurses provide care coordination, and home visits or phone consultation for children from birth to age 18 years with established or suspected chronic conditions, delays or disabilities. Additional CSHCN programs include:

• Maxillofacial Program: Children ages birth to 18 years with cleft lip and/or palate are eligible to receive care coordination through a multi-disciplinary team approach. A treatment plan for the child is developed, and the child's health is monitored by a public health nurse and the Maxillofacial Review Board, which provides services in 11 eastern Washington counties. Call 324-1652 for more information.
  Cleft Lip & Palate – Parent Support Group
  
• Infant Toddler Network: Children ages birth–3 years with developmental delays and/or disability and their families are provided services. Anyone who has a concern for a child's development can call for assistance with screenings, evaluations, and early intervention services. Call 324-1651 for more information.
  
• WorkFirst: Public health nurses assess and support the special needs of children ages birth to 18 years who are referred by WorkFirst/DSHS social workers, to determine the impact of the child's needs on the parent's ability to participate in the WorkFirst program. Call 324-1696 for more information.
• Child Health Notes promoting early identification and partnerships between families, primary health care providers & the community.

Child Care Nurse Consultants • 324-1646
Child care nurse consultants provide consultation and training to licensed child care providers who care for 4 or more infants. Consultation may include reviewing vaccine records, developmental screenings, or providing guidance on behavioral problems. Services meet state requirements and S.T.A.R.S. classes are also provided.

• Program brochure
• Caring for Our Children Childcare Plan
• Special Needs Subsidy Rates
• Child Abuse and Neglect User Manual
  
  Classes for Childcare Providers: On-site STARS trainings, as well as STARS credit classes at the Health District are available. For more information or to discuss your staff training needs, call Roni Turner at 324-1477, or Wendy Brown at 324-1646.
  Click here for class dates & registration form.
  

Child Death Review • 324-1650
All sudden and unexpected deaths of Spokane County children age 0-18 are reviewed by a team of community professionals to identify factors that may have been preventable. Public education campaigns are developed to promote awareness of the actions people can take to decrease preventable child deaths. Counseling and support is also offered to families impacted by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Early Family Support Services • 324-1649
Public health nurses provide home-based services to children and families who have been referred to the program by Child Protective Services (CPS) because they are potentially at-risk for child abuse and/or neglect. Parenting skills and child development education are provided, along with referrals to other resources. Services are designed to strengthen families and improve the health of all family members.

Neighborhoods Matter • 324-1650
Neighborhoods matter, a new program at the Health District, is planning to work collaboratively with a neighborhood and community partners to address issues that negatively impact the health of vulnerable populations. The program will also work to inform the public of these issues and to influence or develop policies that address the issues.

Nurse Family Partnership • 324-1621
Public health nurses with specialized training visit first-time, low-income mothers in their homes, providing services to the pregnant women and their infant until the child is two years old. All low-income women who are less than 24 weeks pregnant with their first baby can join. The goals of the program are to help first-time parents succeed and to:

• Improve pregnancy outcomes – healthier babies and healthier moms
• Improve child health and development – support and education for new parents
• Improve the economic self-sufficiency of the family – setting and reaching goals for the future