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
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
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
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
General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)-7 Screening
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
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 Car Seat Program
NEW - During the recent legislative session, Minnesota's state law on child passenger safety was modified. Children are now required by law to be rear-facing until at least two years old. If a child can be placed in more than one category, then the child must be placed in the more protective category, which is rear-facing). This law goes into effect on August 1, 2024.
Parents often have questions about the proper use and installation of car seats. Children or pregnant individuals may qualify for a free car seat if they have Blue Plus or UCare through state health insurance. Parents often question whether their new or unused car seat is installed properly.
Who is eligible?
All families in Olmsted County with children from newborn through 12 years old may be eligible for a car seat if they have Blue Plus or UCare through state health insurance. All families in Olmsted County qualify for a no cost car seat check.
Car seat distribution through Blue Plus or Ucare
- You need a new car seat. You are pregnant and don’t have one yet, or your child needs to move to a different seat. You may qualify for a free seat through your health insurance. Please use the contact info below, and we can check.
- These are the car seats we can distribute:
- Cosco Scenera Next rear-facing convertible.
- Cosco Finale 2 in 1 combination.
- Backless booster.
- We do not distribute infant-only seats.
- Car seat distribution appointments take 60-90 minutes. The car manual is nice to have for this appointment if available.
How to make an appointment for a car seat distribution.
By phone: Call 507-328-7121
Email: PHcarseatservices@olmstedcounty.gov
Gather your information
Before we can help, we will need to know:
- Names of the child or children (with correct spelling) receiving a car seat or, if you are pregnant, your name and due date.
- The birth date of whoever will be receiving the car seat.
- *For car seat distribution -The health insurance information for whoever the car seat is for. We only accept UCare or Blue Plus for car seat distribution.
- Current email and phone number.
How to make an appointment for a car seat check.
- Car seat check.
- You have a new seat and want to ensure it is installed correctly. We are unable to help install used car seats.
- Car seat check appointments take about 60 minutes. The car seat manual and the car manual are beneficial at the time of the car seat check.
By phone: Call 507-328-7121
Email: PHcarseatservices@olmstedcounty.gov
Car seat resources
For additional resources on installing car seats, we recommend:
- Attending a car seat infant passenger safety class.
- Checking out education videos.
- Searching for a certified technician in your area.
Child passenger safety guide
Car seat recalls
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - Car seat registration
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - Car seat recall check
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 the Minnesota Department of Health website.
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: FAP@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 and Teen Checkups
Email: CTC@olmstedcounty.gov
Phone: 507-328-7500
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
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.
Public Health nurses specializing in School-Age Services are available to support the needs of school-age youth and their families. If you are a youth or a caregiver of a youth with medical, dental, or other concerns, please use the referral form to connect with a nurse. Your information will be kept confidential, and you will receive a response within two business days.
