Maternal Family Health

The Best Beginnings program is an educational program for women/families who are pregnant.  The program assists women with pregnancy testing, referrals to community providers, enrollment process for the Pregnant Woman Medicaid Program (PE), and by providing education and support.  An extensive loan library is available, which contains books and videos on pregnancy, nutrition, infant care, postpartum care, and pregnancy issues, and breastfeeding.  We also have information important to teen moms.  A public health registered nurse can visit with you individually to assist you in obtaining the information and resources you need.

• How to care for your newborn
• How to care for yourself during postpartum 
• What is normal and when to call your primary care provider
• Referrals to local agencies that can assist you if there are any other needs
• Baby first immunizations

Breastfeeding can be a wonderful achievement for a new mom.  However, not every woman feels the picture to the left reflects their breastfeeding experience.  It can seem like everyone has a breastfeeding story...good and bad. The opinions of others can make you doubt the best choice for your baby.

Our goal is to encourage moms who choose breastfeeding to be successful through education and support.  Any amount of time you breastfeed your baby will be a benefit to both you and your newborn. 

Did you know babies can self attach at the time of birth?

Click on the picture to watch the breastcrawl video brought to you by WHO and UNICEF

This is a special in-depth program designed to develop the foundation for successful families and raising confident children.  A publichealth registered nurse, who is specially trained for this program, visits with families regularly during a 2 1/2 year time period, beginning during pregnancy.

The Nurse-Family Partnership has three main objectives to achieve its goals:

• Fostering healthier pregnancies:  teaching new parents-to-be or single moms-to-be information on healthy eating, consistent prenatal care, signs and symptoms of problems including pre-term labor, and avoiding the use of tobacco, alcohol or other harmful substances during pregnancy.

• Improving the health and development of children:  providing information on responsible and competent care for a child's physical and emotional health and safety.

• Encouraging self-sufficiency:  support and mentoring by creating a plan for the future, including continuing education, securing employment, and subsequent pregnancies.

How is this program different from our other programs at Platte County Public Health?

• Focus is on any first time parents or single moms

• Nurse home visitors receive specialized training

• Registered nurses help parents realize their strengths and set attainable goals

• This program spans the prenatal period through the child's second birthday

• Built-in evaluation provides data to assure quality at the local level

• Care coordination services for families of children with special needs, high risk maternal patients, babies in newborn intensive care, and premature babies (less than 35 weeks gestation at birth)
• Assistance in paying for specialty medical care from CSH participating providers for children 19 and younger with approved diagnoses
• Dental Health Program for children with cleft lip/palate and those with severe crippling malocclusion

Families with private insurance may qualify for CSH coverage if they meet income and diagnosis criteria.  In addition to care coordination services by a public health registered nurse, CSH may assist in paying the cost of specialty care your insurance may not cover.

To see if your family qualifies, an application must be completed, you must meet the income guidelines, and your child must be receiving specialty services from providers who participate in the CSH program.  Platte County Public Health can provide you with the application and information you need to check your eligibility.  Eligibility is determined at the state office of CSH in Cheyenne, Wyoming.