May is Women’s Health Month and the Oswego County Health Department would like to remind residents of the services and resources available to women and their families throughout the year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), getting regular check-ups with a nurse or doctor, eating a healthy, balanced diet, and being physically active are the best ways for women and girls to improve their overall physical and mental health. Practicing stress management techniques is also important for mental health.
The Oswego County Public Health Commissioner, Vera Dunmoor, stated that the department takes women’s health seriously and aims to provide immunization services from babies to the elderly. They also track infectious diseases such as COVID-19, tuberculosis, and hepatitis. Additionally, they assist pregnant women before and after childbirth through their Maternal and Child Health Home Visiting Program. This short-term volunteer program provides home visits to eligible families to improve pregnancy outcomes.
The program includes home visits by public health nurses to educate families on a variety of subjects, such as parenting skills and early childhood health and development. Visiting nurses can also perform maternal and child physicals, weigh babies, assist with breastfeeding, answer questions, and connect families with community resources such as WIC and Healthy Families programs. Residents can enroll in the program by talking to their health care provider, completing an online self-introduction form, or calling the Prevention Division at 315-349-3547.
The Oswego County Healthy Family Program is available to expectant and new parents. This free, evidence-based, voluntary home-visiting program is aimed at strengthening the bond between parents and babies. Staff provide support and information on prenatal care, parenting, infant and child development, and child health. The program also connects parents and providers for prenatal visits and immunizations and helps families access a range of community resources.
Living in a rural county can be difficult and frustrating for parents who expect to have the resources and assistance they need. The coordinator of the Oswego County Healthy Family Program, Betty Dunmoor, states that the program is here to help new parents and share information about community resources that can be of assistance. Anyone can enroll in the program, either by sending an email to www.healthyfamilies.com or visiting https://health.oswegocounty.com/programs/1_preventive/healthy_families.php.
Healthy Families Oswego County is a program of the Oswego County Health Department in partnership with the Oswego County Cornell Cooperative Extension. For more information about the Oswego County Health Department and its services, residents can visit https://health.oswegocounty.com or call 315-349-3547.