Community Outreach

Betsy Alexander, RN, Director of Nursing Rose Blackwell, RN, Maternity Care Coordinator Supervisor Robin Byrne, RN, FPN, Lead Child Service Coordinator Sheila Devine, RN, School Nurse Supervisor The Department of Public Health has many highly trained public health nurses available to offer support in the community for pregnant mothers, high-risk pregnancies, postpartum and newborn home visits, young children at risk of developmental delay, and public school children. Maternal Health Maternity Care Coordination Case management services are provided by public health nurses, called Maternity Care Coordinators, during pregnancy and up to two months postpartum, to pregnant women with limited social support. Services include home visits, support, teaching, and referrals to needed services to help ensure a healthy pregnancy. Services are also available for Spanish-speaking families.	Appointments Open2CU En Español Comments welcomed 1200 Spartanburg Hwy. Suite 100 Hendersonville, NC 28792 (828) 692-4223 Directions & Bus Service Clinic Hours Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Friday 8:00 - 4:30 Thursday 9:30 - 6:00

High-Risk Pregnancy Home Visits
Public health nurses are also available to women experiencing complications of pregnancy. After receiving a referral from the provider, the public health nurse visits the mother in the home to monitor, teach, and support.

Postpartum Home Visit
After delivery, the public health nurse is available to visit the new mother in her home. She assesses the mother, offers breastfeeding support, assures that she has all needed supplies, and refers to services. She can also provide the same service for the newborn.

Maternal Outreach Workers
Maternity outreach workers (MOWs) are lay health workers who work closely with the public health nurses to provide support, advocacy, and mentoring to pregnant women with limited social support. Their services include frequent home visits to offer support, assistance with transportation, and assistance to obtain needed services. The program can continue through the second month postpartum. The MOW may also assist with the baby through the first birthday.

Breastfeeding Support Services
A certified Lactation Consultant is available by phone for assessment, support, and teaching. Access to breastfeeding aids such as breast pumps is also available.

Prenatal Program Services brochure (pdf) is available in English or Spanish.

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Child Health

Child Service Coordination
Case management services are available through the Child Service Coordination Program for children who are at risk of developmental problems from birth through three years of age or who have a diagnosed developmental delay from age three to five years. A Child Service Coordinator, a public health nurse with the community health program, will visit to assess the needs of the child and family, monitor development, provide referrals to services, and provide information to the family about development and parenting. Services are also available for Spanish-speaking families.

Maternal Outreach Workers
Children who are receiving Child Service Coordination may also receive Maternity Outreach Services up to their first birthday. They must be enrolled in the CSC program and referred before their second month of age.

Newborn Home Visit
Mothers who receive the Postpartum Home Visit are also offered the Newborn Home Visit for their baby. The public health nurse assesses the baby, determines if any referrals are needed, provides advice on feeding and caring for the baby, and refers to needed services.

School Health
Six school nurses serve over 13,000 students. School nurses provide Individual Health Plans and/or Emergency Action Plans for students with chronic health conditions. Services include:

• case management for students with chronic illness
• referrals for pregnancy
• screening and follow-up for identified health conditions
• training and support for school staff to administer medications and perform health-related procedures (catheterization, insulin injections, etc.)
• counseling for students and parents on health issues.

Child Care Health Consultant (Smart Start)
Nursing consultation services are provided to child care providers in Henderson County child care facilities to improve quality and safety of day care centers. The Child Care Nurse Consultant provides on-site consultations for health questions related to the health and development of individual children and related to conforming to standards and regulations. Through the technical assistance program, interested child care facilities can request technical assistance designed to improve the health and safety of the center, monitor progress, and maintain or increase star rating of the center. Call the Child Care Health Consultant at 694-6092.

SIDS Counseling
The Department of Public Health provides nurses trained in grief counseling for families affected by the death of an infant from Suddent Infant Death Syndrome. Home visits are available. To access this service, call the SIDS counselor at 694-6090.

Child Fatality Prevention Team
This group was established by the N.C. legislature to address the issue of preventable child deaths. It is chaired by the Health Director or designee. It conducts multi-agency/interagency reviews of all infant and child deaths not reviewed by the Community Child Protection Team to identify system problems, make recommendations, and document actions by the Child Fatality Prevention Team to prevent future deaths.

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Other Community Services

Staff serve on numerous task forces, committees, and agency boards, and actively participate in community processes such as the Strategic Plan for Children, the Latino Advocacy Coalition, etc. They also teach parenting classes in our agency and in the community, participate in health fairs, and many other activities.