Community Health Nurse

 This office delivers professional nursing and nutrition services and coordinates health-related services to individuals, families, and communities.

      Services include education and referral; immunizations; communicable disease testing, counseling and education; developmental screenings; prenatal and post-partum home visits; case management of pregnant women; WIC; family planning, nutrition counseling and education; screenings for vision, hearing, blood pressure, blood sugar, and hemoglobin; and many more.

 

     Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

     WIC is a supplemental nutrition program for eligible women, infants and children, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the South Dakota Department of Health. WIC's goal is to promote and maintain the health and well being of nutritionally at-risk women, infants, and children. WIC is available for all counties in the state and is an equal opportunity program.

     The South Dakota Immunization Program aims to protect all South Dakotans against vaccine preventable disease by increasing immunization coverage levels of children and adults.

     The Perinatal Program is funded through the Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant with matching state funds. The Department of Health cooperates with the SD Medicaid program to provide services to Medicaid eligible clients. The program provides coordination and technical assistance for primary and preventive care to improve pregnancy outcome including: risk assessment of pregnant women, perinatal education, case management of pregnant women, prenatal/postpartum visits, and referral to community resources.

     Codington County Community Health Nurses provide contract services to several schools in the county. These services include health education and health screenings for students.

     Developmental screenings are provided for infants and children upon request. Through these screenings the CHN's can assess possible developmental delays and make appropriate referrals for further testing and interventions.