Nurse Services for Families of Special Needs Babies

For Immediate Release: Thursday, December 09, 2010

For families who have premature babies or babies with other special needs, Washington County provides nurses to help parents evaluate their baby's progress and help them obtain the services they need. Two programs, "Babies First" and "CaCoon," are provided through the County's Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Division – Field Team.

The Field Team, fifteen full and part-time nurses, provides services to parents of babies with a variety of special needs, ranging from Down Syndrome and cerebral palsy to vision and hearing loss, cleft lip or palate and prematurity.

"Education is the main part of our job," says Community Health Nurse Susan Pinnock. "We're not so much home health nurses, who take care of machines and give shots. We are nurse educators and consultants who evaluate the growth and development of a child and suggest interventions when necessary."

Pinnock recalls helping the mother of an infant who has Down Syndrome. The baby had feeding difficulties and a heart defect. Pinnock referred the mother to a lactation consultant and went often to weigh the baby and monitor her growth. She made calls to the baby's doctor and supply companies. She educated the mother about the baby's condition and linked her to resources she needed. After three years, the child is doing very well – no longer on medications or oxygen. Pinnock reports that the mother has a good grasp of how to provide her daughter's care and access the services she needs.

Pinnock reports that a typical family may receive services for one to three years. One child she visits is five years old, having recently arrived in this country.Pinnock is helping his parents learn how to assist his special condition.

Occasionally, Community Health Nurses will come across a condition in a baby that was not noticed by parents or the physician. For instance, Pinnock discovered that one baby at age four months was blind. She was able to direct the child's parents to appropriate services.

Other times, parents are especially concerned about a particular behavior or condition of their baby. The Community Health Nurses can point out to the parents what is "normal" behavior and development. This can save the expense of extra, un-needed visits to the doctor or emergency room.

The nurses are in a position to note when growth is poor, or when feeding is abnormal. If a baby doesn't grow as it should, often times the baby isn't getting enough calories. Says Pinnock, "If growth is poor, we'll talk about feeding, diet and feeding position. We can make a referral to a feeding clinic if that seems appropriate."

Occasionally, State Department of Human Services Child Welfare asks the Community Health Nurses to assist a family where good parent education is a key to restoring family and infant health. "Mostly, people see us as advocates to document that they are doing parenting well. People see the benefit for themselves and their children," says Pinnock.

Among her assignments, Pinnock goes regularly to a residential alcohol treatment center for mothers who have their children with them. The moms especially like to see their children weighed and evaluated. They appreciate the feedback that they are doing a good job raising their children.

Most referrals to the Field Team come from hospitals, but some come through family physicians, the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program or family and friends who received services from the Field Team.

The Field Team serves about 1,000 families in Washington County at any given time.

For information about services provided by the Field Team Community Health Nurses and how to contact the program, visit the Washington County web site at: http://tinyurl.com/Washington-County-Field-Team.

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