Community Health

Community Health within Minnesota is a state/local partnership. The Minnesota Department of Health provides some funding. In order to access this funding local agencies (counties, community health boards or cities) must conduct a needs assessment, write a plan based on the assessment, and send in reports.

Within Faribault and Martin counties, Community Health is a part of Human Services. Within Community Health, we provide services to residents of all ages and all incomes. The services are provided by nurses (Registered Nurses who have additional Public Health Nurse certification), sanitarian, highly trained aides, parent visitors and home visitors. The services provided include:

Prenatal and New Baby Information: Pregnant women (and their families if the woman desires) and families with infants and children are provided information on healthy pregnancy, infant development and parenting. In addition to written information, nurses are available for phone consultation and /or visits at WIC, C&TC or immunization clinics.

Child and Teen Checkups: This is a health screening completed by a public health nurse and an aide. It's a voluntary screening for children ages 6 months to 21 years of age. For children not on medical assistance, the cost for the screening is a sliding fee scale based on parental income. Children receiving medical assistance are required to accept information about Child and Teen Checkups. The nurses check height, weight, development, hematocrit, urine, nutrition, immunization status and do an unclothed physical assessment. Any areas that are outside the norms are referred for diagnosis and treatment. Referrals have been made to physicians, dentists, optometrists, etc.

Immunizations: Immunizations are provided to children both within our offices as well as within schools. Immunizations are provided according to the schedule adopted by the Minnesota Department of Health. In addition our agency participates in a regional immunization registry. This registry includes an immunization history with immunizations given by a doctor as well as any given through our agency. The intent with this registry is to make immunization history's easily accessible for parents, physicians and schools, as well as to allow a recall letter for children who's immunizations appear to be delayed. This is a voluntary service that is begun at the time of the birth of an infant.

Healthy Families: This is a two-leveled program available to families with newborns. Families are contacted prenatally or in the hospital at the time of the delivery of a baby. Families are offered information on available community resources. One of the resources offered is Health Families Home Visiting. Home visiting is a resource available to overburdened families. These families voluntarily accept home visiting. The home visiting includes parent support, information on child growth and development, health care, referral and assistance getting to community resources, discipline methods, positive parent/child interaction and a variety of other topics.

Environmental health: Includes inspections of and licensing for food, beverage, lodging establishments and school cafeterias. It also includes information on a variety of environmental health issues including pests, inappropriate housing, overabundance of garbage etc.

Long Term Care Consultation and waivers: This is a visit by a Public Health Nurse and a social worker. The intent of this contact is to review with the individual and their family, what their personal care needs are. Once the needs are determined, options from continuing as is to in home services to nursing home placement are reviewed. For eligible persons, our agency may be able to help pay for some of the services. Each eligible person is provided with the unique set of services that will best meet their needs to allow them to remain in the community.

Health Education/Information and referral: Public Health Nurses and the sanitarian provide a variety of information on a variety of topics. The topics maybe everything from immunization information, mold information, communicable disease information, farm safety, in home services information, etc. The information maybe presented to an individual or the information maybe provided to a group. Community Health staff also provide consultation to other agency staff. Nurses or the sanitarian may complete joint home visits for residents with vulnerable adult or child protection concerns. Nurses may do joint visits with other agency staff if their clients have a health issue. Nurses also provide consultation to staff, who are looking for health information.

Communicable Disease/Bioterrorism: Staff refer and/or follow up on communicable diseases (i.e. tuberculosis) within our counties. In addition, staff work closely with community partners (law enforcement, doctors, hospitals, etc.) to share information, plan and practice how to protect and /or control bioterrorism and other public health incidents.

Women, Infants, Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program: WIC is a federal program that provides nutritious foods, nutrition counseling, and referrals to other resources. WIC participants receive monthly vouchers to purchase specific foods. These foods are designed to supplement their diets. Pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and infants/children under the age of 5 years, whom meet federal income guidelines (185% of federal poverty guidelines) are eligible for WIC.