Child Health Services

Born Learning/Success by 6
The Health Department is partnering with the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, United Way Success By 6®, Vision 2015, Citi and numerous additional community partners to bring the bornlearning™ public engagement campaign to Northern Kentucky to help parents, caregivers and the entire community create quality early learning opportunities for young children. To learn more about the campaign, visit the national bornlearning campaign Web site, or the United Way of Greater Cincinnati's Success by 6 Web site.

Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program
A breastfeeding peer counseling program in Northern Kentucky is designed to encourage breastfeeding and assist mothers needing advice and guidance. It is provided by the Health Department and is open to any mother enrolled in the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) nutrition supplement program and who plans to breastfeed her child. For more information on the peer counseling program, please contact Nancy Merk at 859.363.2113. Learn more about the benefits of breastfeeding.

Child Fatality Review Program 
Each year approximately 800 children die in Kentucky. At least half of these deaths are preventable. The Commonwealth of Kentucky has established the Child Fatality Review Program to investigate child fatalities and use the information to prevent future deaths. In Northern Kentucky, a Child Fatality Review Teams have been established in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties. The review teams consist of members from various community organizations and service providers, and are organized and led by the Health Department. For more information call 859.341.4264, Ext. 2328. 

Childhood Lead Poison Prevention 
The Health Department encourages all children under the age of 6 to be screened for lead poisoning. Screenings can be done at all of our county health centers. Children should be tested at age 9-12 months and again at age 24 months. Children with a higher risk should be tested more frequently. The lead screening consists of a finger stick, and the results are available in a couple days.

Child Care Health Consultation 
The Child Care Health Consultation program, previously called Healthy Start in Child Care, is designed to provide comprehensive consultation, guidance, and education to family-centered and licensed day care operators. Specially trained childcare consultants are available for consultation in the areas of injury prevention, nutrition, issues of abuse and neglect, and communicable disease prevention. The consultants are also available to answer questions regarding required childhood immunizations. Learn more.

Home Visiting 
The Health Department visits pregnant and parenting young families sometime during their pregnancy. You will be contacted by a community health nurse to schedule a time that is good for you. This is an opportunity for you to have time with the nurse in the privacy of your home to ask questions about pregnancy, delivery, infant feeding and how to care for your newborn. For more information contact 859.363.2061.

Health Access Nurturing Development Services (HANDS) 
HANDS is a voluntary home visitation program designed to assist new parents during their child's first years of life. HANDS is offered to women during their first pregnancy to assist with child development, parenting skills, health services and other needed resources. This program can be started before the baby is born through 12 weeks after the birth and continue until the newborn reaches 3 1/2 years of age. All families deserve a healthy pregnancy and their babies deserve a healthy, safe and happy childhood. For more information contact 859.824.5074. 

Immunizations 
Vaccines to prevent vaccine preventable diseases (diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough, Hepatitis B, HiB) are available. Call your local county health center for an appointment. To learn more about when your child should receive his/her immunizations, visit the CDC's childhood immunization guide (this document requires Adobe Acrobat to load).

Medical Nutrition Counseling 
Nutrition assessment, counseling and education are included as part of many Health Department programs. Other patients presenting a physician's referral may receive special diet counseling by a dietitian. Educational programs on nutrition are available to schools and community groups. Group education: 859.341.4264. Individual counseling is available at the county health centers.

Paternity Acknowledgement
Parents who are not married and who did not have the father's name listed on the birth certificate at the hospital may want to legally establish paternity by completing a paternity affidavit at the Health Department's county health centers. The process is free and can be done by appointment. Please call the health center most convenient to you and ask for the clerical coordinator. Please note: Both parents must be at the appointment to complete the affidavit and must bring proof of identity. Also note: the Health Department does NOT provide paternity testing. For more information, please call 1.888.675.7425.

School Health Physicals 
Physicals are available to school age children who meet income guidelines. Immunizations are updated. See locations page for phone numbers of county health centers.

Well Child Exams 
Early childhood screenings help children live longer, healthier lives. The Early and Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment program, or EPSDT, is designed to make sure that a child is screened for a wide range of medical conditions. EPSDT services provide a comprehensive look at the child including physical, mental and social issues. The EPSDT program makes sure that all children receive the treatment they need to improve/maintain their health. To learn more, contact a county health center.

WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Food Supplement Program 
WIC is a federally funded supplemental food and nutrition program for low income, nutritionally at risk pregnant/post partum women, infants and children under 5 years of age. Certain foods can be purchased with computerized instruments issued to certified participants. In addition, participants receive nutrition education, counseling and appropriate screenings. See locations page for phone numbers of county health centers.