Services and programs for parents and children
Public Health Services provides individual visits, classes, and groups in the home, clinic, and community setting to families who are pregnant or have infants and preschool children. Information, support, and referral to community resources are provided by public health nurses. Several of our programs are coordinated with social workers to provide a comprehensive program that addresses all aspects of social, emotional, and physical health as they relate to pregnancy, parenting, and child development.
Family Home Visiting Programs
Family Home Visiting is a service, provided by public health nurses (PHNs), offering home visits to partner with and support families during pregnancy and parenting. The PHNs work alongside families to promote a healthy pregnancy, a positive parent-child relationship, knowledge of parenting and child development, parental resilience, and referral to resources that provide basic needs and social supports. PHNs have been trained in and utilize the Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home-Visiting (MECSH) program, an evidence-based home visiting model. Contact us for more information and for eligibility requirements.
Newborn / Postpartum Visits (aka New Baby Visits) are available to all families with a new baby. The nurse visits families in their home during the first two weeks after the birth to offer teaching and support related to care of the baby, postpartum recovery of mom, and family adjustment.
Please call our Intake line at 507-328-7570 or email referrals to PublicHealthHCFIntake@olmstedcounty.gov
Women, Infants, and Children
Caregiver information and tips
Preparing for a new baby
A healthy pregnancy
Alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs
Smoking - English
Smoking - Spanish
Alcohol use - English
Alcohol use - Spanish
Drug use - English
Drug use - Spanish
Cannabis use - English
Cannabis use - Spanish
Eating well during pregnancy
Fetal movement counts/kick counts
Prenatal care
Prenatal vitamins
Signs of labor
Maternal warning signs
Weight gain during pregnancy
Feeding your baby
Getting started with breastfeeding
First months of breastfeeding
Bottle-feeding your baby
Breastfeeding: Returning to work or school
Human milk storage guidelines
Storage and preparation of breast milk
Combination feeding
Child well-being
Newborn screening for parents-to-be - English
Newborn screening - Spanish
Newborn screening - Somali
Vitamin D for children
Vaccinations
Free or low-cost shots for children.
Minnesota Vaccines for Children (MnVFC) program
Use this form to see if your child qualified for the MnVFC program.
Questions parents ask about vaccinations for babies
Minnesota Poison Control System
Safe medicine storage for parents
You need to know: Infant’s and children’s acetaminophen
Firearm safety
Firearm safety resources
Asking about secure gun storage (English)
Asking about secure gun storage (Spanish)
Mother well-being
Depression or anxiety during and after pregnancy
English
Spanish
Somali
Amharic
Hmong
Karen
Physical activity during and after pregnancy
During pregnancy - English
During pregnancy - Spanish
During pregnancy - Somali
Postpartum - English
Postpartum - Spanish
Postpartum - Somali
Postpartum well-being plan
English
Spanish
Somali
Amharic
Hmong
Karen
Patient health questionnaire – 9 (PHQ-9)
Baby sleeping guide
Getting your baby to sleep
Back to sleep, tummy to play
Soothing your crying baby
Stages of newborn sleep
States of consciousness in newborns
Safe sleep environment
Top tips: Safer spaces for baby
Child Car Seat Program
There are several different programs in Olmsted County for clients who need assistance obtaining a car seat. These programs offer convertible seats (which are ok for newborns), forward-facing/combo seats, and booster seats. None of the programs offer infant-only seats, as they can only be used for several months before they are outgrown. Call 507-328-7500 and ask for the car seat program.
Child passenger safety guide
Follow Along Program
Parents often have questions about whether their child is on target with their health, development, behavior, and learning. The Olmsted County Follow Along Program is a screening program that can answer parents' questions, help them learn about age-appropriate development, and assist with referrals when there are concerns. Follow Along is a mail-in program, at no cost to parents, that uses the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQs) to screen for and teach about children's health and development. The program helps parents find out if their child is hearing, moving, seeing, playing, talking, learning, growing, and acting normally as their child reaches different ages.
Who is eligible?
All families in Olmsted County who have children newborn to three years old.
How does the program work?
- Ages and Stages Questionnaires are mailed to families at different intervals beginning at two months of age, and then at four, eight, 12, 16, 20, 24, 30, and 36 months. Each questionnaire asks how your child is growing, playing, talking, moving, and acting.
- Social-emotional questionnaires are mailed at two, six, 12, 24, 30, and 36 months.
- When parents return the questionnaires, information with fun activities for parents to do with their child and other age-appropriate items are also mailed.
- The questionnaire results will be shared with parents/caregivers. If there are any concerns, the Follow Along nurse will contact parents to clarify answers and help with further services if needed.
- At 36 months, parents will receive information about the next step: Early Childhood Screening.
How do I sign up?
A child may be enrolled in the Follow Along Program while still in the hospital right after birth, or during a New Baby Visit with a Public Health Nurse, or at their visit with their health care provider. Parents can also enroll children online at www.health.state.mn.us/mnfap.
1. Gather your information
Before we can help you we will need to know:
- Names of the parents or caregivers.
- The name and birth date of each child you would like to enroll.
- What is the best way to contact you?
2. Enroll
Online: Enroll here.
By phone: Call 507-328-7500 and ask to speak with the Public Health Nurse about the Follow Along program.
Email: Email us healthweb@olmstedcounty.gov
- In the email Subject line type, "Follow Along Program."
- Include the information you gathered in Step 1 in your email. A nurse will contact you.
Find out more about how young children grow and learn, and what parents can do to support their child's learning at the Help Me Grow website. Free help is available for eligible children.
Child development
Helping your baby grow
Download the Milestone Tracker mobile app.
Use a digital online checklist.
Print the milestone checklist.
Early Childhood Family Education
Early Childhood Family Education is a public school program in Rochester for families with children ages birth to kindergarten enrollment.
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library
Child and Teen Checkups
Text: 507-267-2574
Email: CTC@olmstedcounty.gov
Phone: 507-535-9314
Find out more at Connect with CTC.
The Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC) Program helps families:
- Find a medical clinic.
- Find a dental clinic.
- Schedule appointments.
- Arrange transportation.
- Assist with an interpreter.
- Understand what happens at a checkup.
- Help connect to community resources (e.g., connect with WIC Nutrition Program or Head Start).
What happens at a checkup:
- Lab tests.
- Immunizations (shots).
- Screening for lead.
- Vision and hearing tests.
- Referral to a dentist and fluoride varnish (to help prevent tooth decay).
- Development and behavioral screenings.
- Social-emotional and mental health screenings.
- Height, weight, and other growth measurements.
- Education about the next stage of your child or teen's growth and development.
- Time with your health care provider to talk about your questions and concerns.
Your child should receive regular checkups from birth to age 20.
Child and Teen Checkups meet the health requirements for Head Start, WIC, school, sports, or childcare. Be sure to bring any forms you need filled out with you to your appointment.
To schedule a well-child exam, contact your child's healthcare provider:
- Olmsted Medical Center: 507-288-3443
- Mayo Clinic: 507-284-2511
- CHSI (Community Health Services, Inc.), Clinics: 507-529-0503
If your child does not have a healthcare provider, contact Olmsted County Public Health at 507-328-7500.
School Public Health Nursing Services
Public Health nurses assist in health assessments, counseling, and referral services for school children in all schools, and provide age-specific health topic teachings to all grade levels in all public and private schools in the county.
