Community Services Nurse
The Community Services Nurse is one of the many projects Person County was awarded by a grant through the local Person County Partnership for Children.
The Community Services Nurse provides services to all registered child care centers and homes, Head Start, and private preschools. Services provided include dental, hearing and vision screenings; medical screenings for possible childhood communicable diseases; review of medical and immunization records; developmental screenings; consultation and training to child care staff; classroom activities; behavior intervention; and assistance with mandated reporting. The nurse is also available to parents to answer any questions they may have.
The nurse works with child care providers on issues they have identified as needs including training and classroom issues. The team also works with individual children and their families who need services to deal with health and behavioral issues. Written parental consent must be gained prior to working with any individual child.
The primary goal of this program is to provide support to children, families, and child care providers. This is done by working with registered childcare facilities to provide necessary resources and education to improve quality, and by working with individual children and their families to identify issues and provide appropriate services needed by the child prior to entering school.
The Community Services Nurse serves approximately 650 children and their families. The nurse also serves 10 registered childcare centers, 45 registered family childcare homes, 6 Head Start classrooms, and 5 private preschools. The nurse serves as a Child Care Health Consultant for all registered child care facilities in the county.
The program offers yearly vision screenings, to all Person County children 2 to 5 years old, using the MTI Photo screener. Screenings are offered on-site at all registered childcare facilities, private preschools, Head Start/Pre-K Registration, and at the local health department.
Consistent or Recurring Issues/Problems:
- Need for affordable, accessible, quality child care for children in Person County.
- Need for training for parents, children, and child care providers regarding health and safety issues.
Future Program Goals:
- Offer consultation services to all childcare providers in Person County.
- Increase the staffing to one and one-half registered nurses.