A gateway to healthy families and homes

The Geauga Public Health Newborn Home Visiting Program strives to give infants a healthy start in life. The program is available to all Geauga County residents who are newly delivered first-time parents, and newly delivered parents who may have other children, but are in need of reeducating themselves. The goal of the program is to visit within the first six weeks of the child’s life. A Public Health Nurse will visit the home to help ensure a safe and nurturing home for their infant.

A Public Health Nurse will contact parents soon after delivery. The parents’ identifying information is provided by referrals from hospitals, WIC, Healthy Start, CFHS, BCMH, Help Me Grow, or other agencies within the county. While the program is voluntary, about 35% of parents readily agree to participate. More than 5,000 newborn home visits have been made by Public Health Nurses since 1995.

During the home visit, the public health nurse will:

• Provide information on key health topics:
• • Childhood Immunizations
  • New Dad/Mom Tips
  • A Guide to Your Childs’s Development
  • Information on Infant Behavior, Cues, Feeding, etc.
  • SIDS prevention and “safe sleep”
  • Feelings After Birth
  • Second Hand Smoke
  • First Aid for children
  • Never Shake A Baby
  • The Need for a Primary Doctor
  • When To Call the Doctor
  • Poison Control
  • Referrals to other service agencies

• Provide Newborn Assessment
• • Will weigh and complete a head to toe check on baby at parents’ request
  • Will follow-up on Ohio’s Newborn Screening Program as needed

• Provide Mother Assessment
• • Will screen for any potential post partum health problems

We will make any recommendations or referrals as needed.