Pregnancy and Parenting Programs

Olmsted County 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 is provided by the public health nurse in the following programs:

Parent Child Health Home Visiting Programs

All our programs provide parent support, promote an enjoyable parent-child relationship, and encourage the healthy social-emotional and physical development of the child. Ongoing parenting information and support is provided through home visits by a public health nurse and a social worker from Community Services. Baby Steps and Bright Future also provide monthly family group activities. Families are enrolled during pregnancy or up until the baby is 6 weeks old.  Contact us for more information and for eligibility requirements.

Bright Futures is teen pregnancy and parenting support program.  Teens may work with a public health nurse and/or social worker.  Visits focus on providing parent support, promoting an enjoyable parent-child relationship, and encouraging the health, social-emotional and physical development of the child.  Monthly family group activities are provided.  Enrollment determined by public health nursing staff and/or social services.  
    Bright Futures brochure  (PDF 1.17 MB)

Baby Steps is a parenting support program for first time parents. Families are enrolled either during pregnancy or within 6 weeks of the baby’s birth. Visits are provided by a public health nurse and a social worker until the child turns 18 - 24 months old. Visits focus on providing parent support, promoting an enjoyable parent-child relationship, and encouraging the health social-emotional and physical development of the child. Monthly family group activities are provided. Eligibility determined by public health nursing staff.  
    Baby Steps brochure (PDF 506 KB)

Steps to Success is a program for families who are expecting their second or third child or that child is under 6 weeks of age and their other children are under the age of five.   Visits are provided by a public health nurse and a social worker until their youngest child turns 2 years old.  Visits focus on providing parent support, promoting an enjoyable parent-child relationship, and encouraging the health, social-emotional and physical development of the child.  Enrollment is determined by public health nursing staff.  
    Steps to Success brochure (PDF 710 KB)

Pregnancy and Parenting Connections

Public Health Nurses provide support and information on family health, safety, and child physical and social-emotional development.  Referrals are made to appropriate community resources.

Pregnancy Home Visits for families who are expecting a new baby.  Visits continue during the pregnancy and for at least one visit after the baby is born.  Families can continue with parenting home visits at that time.

Parenting Home Visits for families who are parenting children under the age of 5 years old.   Visits continue for the 3-6 months.

New Baby Visits

Public Health Nurses make home visits within a few days of arriving home from the hospital.  Nurses provide information about caring for an infant and new mother, as well as support for new parents. We can assist with questions about breast or bottle feeding, baby care and infant development, and mom’s recovery. New baby visits are available to all parents living in Olmsted County. 

Family Planning

Public Health nurses provide birth control education and counseling, preconception education, and pregnancy testing.  Information can be given during regularly scheduled home visits or over the phone.  There is a nurse on intake at the health department every day who is available to meet with you on a one-on-one basis and provide condoms and foam.  
    Birth Control Methods Brochure (PDF 273 KB)