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Maternal and Child Health

Maternal and Child Health

The Division of Maternal and Child Health collaborates with other state government departments, private health care providers and communities throughout Tennessee to assure that every child has a healthy start, a medical home, and the support to become a healthy adult.

Contact Maternal and Child Health

Cordell Hull Bldg., 5th floor
425 5th Ave. N.
Nashville, TN  37243-0101
(615) 741-7353 phone
(615) 741-1063 fax

Child and Adolescent Health Services

Overview

Child and Adolescent Health Services provides a continuum of care for children and their parents. Services emphasize prevention and education, and include the following:

Adolescent and Young Adult Health
The Adolescent and Young Adult Health program serves as a resource to Tennessee communities in addressing and assessing strengths and risks related to adolescent health status, promotes positive youth development, addresses health disparities and prevents negative health outcomes.

Child Care Resource Centers
Tennessee's child care resource centers are a collaborative project involving the Tennessee Department of Human Services, the Tennessee Department of Health, and the Tennessee Developmental Disabilities Council. There are currently nine child care resource centers across the state serving 76 of the 95 counties. All child care providers are eligible and the services provided include training, technical assistance, and a lending resource library. The primary topics addressed by the resource centers are: Developmentally Appropriate Practice, Health and Safety, and the Inclusion of Children with Special Needs. By January 1, 2001, two more resource centers will be added so that child care providers from all 95 counties will have access to the services of a child care resource center.

Child Fatality Review Teams

Child fatality review teamsare comprised of multi-disciplinary, multi-agency individuals that review all deaths of children 17 years old or younger.

Home Visiting Programs

All MCH home visiting programs share these goals:

  • Prevent child abuse and neglect
  • Prevent or reduce developmental delays in children
  • Insure that children are immunized, have a medical home and receive well child exams.

Child Health and Development (CHAD)

CHAD is available in 41counties for pregnant women and children ages birth to six. CHAD helps prevent or reduce abuse, neglect and developmental delays by providing parent support and education services.

Healthy Start

Healthy Start is a nationally recognized, intensive home visiting program for first time parents who have been determined to be in need of support services. In Tennessee, 26 counties provide Healthy Start services.

Resource Mothers

Lay home health visitors assist pregnant and parenting teenagers (17 and under) in six West Tennessee counties. The goals of the resource mothers program are to reduce low birth weights; reduce maternal risk taking, such as smoking; reduce high school dropout; and improve parenting skills.

HUG

Help Us Grow (HUG) program staff assist pregnant women, postpartum women for up to two years, and infants and children up to age six in gaining access to medical, social, and educational services. HUG services are available in all 95 counties. 

For more information about the TDH home visiting programs, call (615) 741-0329.

Lead Poisoning Prevention

Tennessee's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program works to identify and prevent lead poisoning in children. The program is developing a statewide system to monitor the blood lead levels of children under six and increase professional and public awareness concerning lead poisoning.

SIDS

TheSudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) program provides counseling and education to parents and all other individuals who were connected with a SIDS death. The program also tracks data concerning the numbers of SIDS cases within Tennessee. For more information about the Department of Health's SIDS program, call (615) 741-0355. Click here to view the 1990-1998 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Report.

Teen Pregnancy Prevention

The abstinence education program addresses teen pregnancy by providing abstinence education, and where appropriate, mentoring, counseling, and adult supervision to promote abstinence from sexual activity until marriage. Currently, Tennessee funds 21 community based abstinence education projects across the state.

Child Care Resource Centers

Tennessee’s child care resource centers are available across Tennessee to help child care providers improve the quality of child care. These centers are the result of a collaborative project involving the Tennessee Department of Human Services, the Tennessee Department of Health, and the Tennessee Developmental Disabilities Council. There are currently nine child care resource centers across the state serving 76 counties. By January 1, 2001, two more resource centers will be added so that child care providers from all 95 counties will have access to the services of a child care resource center.

The areas emphasized by the resource centers include:

  • Developmentally appropriate practice
  • Health and safety
  • Inclusion of children with special needs

All child care providers are eligible for their services whether they are a child care center, family child care provider, group child care provider, non-profit, for profit, private, public, school based, church based, or community-based.

All child care providers are served.  The services of the child care resource centers are free.

Services include:

  • Training
  • On-site technical assistance
  • Consultation
  • A lending resource library

For more information, contact the program director at (615) 253-8393.

Child Care Resource Center Locations

Northwest Tennessee (Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Obion, and Weakley Counties):  Child Care Resource Center at the University of Tennessee at Martin (901) 587-7868

Memphis Delta (Shelby and Fayette Counties):  Child Care Resource Center at Shelby State Community College (901) 333-6051

Southwest Tennessee (Chester, Decatur, Hardeman, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lauderdale, Madison, and Tipton Counties):  Child Care Resource Center with Kiwanis Center (901) 664-4233

Mid-Cumberland (Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, and Wilson Counties):  Child Care Resource Center with Developmental Services of Dickson County (615) 446-2325

IN-TOUCH DAVIDSON (Davidson County):  Child Care Resource Center at Tennessee State University (615) 963-7079

South Central Tennessee (Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, Moore, Perry, and Wayne Counties): Child Care Resource Center with Community Development Center of Shelbyville (931) 438-2322

Upper Cumberland(Cannon, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Smith, Van Buren, and White Counties): Child Care Resource Center at Tennessee Technological University (931) 372-3780

Southeast Tennessee(Bledsoe, Bradley, Grundy, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Polk, Rhea, and Sequatchie Counties): Child Care Resource Center with Signals Centers (423) 629-4174

Upper East Tennessee (Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington Counties): Child Care Resource Center with Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency (423) 246-6180

East Tennessee (north) (Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Morgan, Roane, Scott, and Union Counties): Child Care Resource Center with The Henry Center (423) 882-5288

East Tennessee (south) (Blount, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, and Sevier Counties): Child Care Resource Center with University of Tennessee at Knoxville (865) 974-7750.

Healthy Schools


Coordinated School Health


Project Teach/School Nurse Consultant

Project TEACH (Together Educating and Coordinating Health) is a coordinated effort between the Tennessee Department of  Health and the Tennessee Department of Education to provide health services to children with special health care needs and to improve the capability of local school systems to access third party payers for services delivered. This project began as a result  of  efforts to mainstream  students with special health care needs into public schools based on advances in medical technology and  legal requirements to serve students with disabilities. Regional Project TEACH coordinators provide case management  for these students and arrange conferences with school personnel, family members and health care providers to identify appropriate levels of service.

The School Nurse Consultant provides technical assistance to school administrators and health care professionals working in a school setting. Clarification is provided on the role of unlicensed personnel in assisting the student with maintaining optimal health and safety.  Based on legislative changes, the school nurse consultant updates the Guidelines for Health Care Professionals and Health Care Procedures in a School Setting.  This document, which reflects  best practice for the administration of medication and completion of medical procedures in schools, is available online or by request. A copy is provided to all Tennessee schools. It  is consistent with the national standards and approved by the Tennessee Board of Nursing. Contact the School Nurse Consultant: (615) 253-2910.


Le Bonheur Community Outreach

The Le Bonheur  Community Outreach partnership works to integrate the Coordinated School Health model into the Memphis City Schools and rural West Tennessee schools.  Le Bonheur, a nonprofit hospital, has been granted state funds from the Department of Health  to provide the following services:

  • Vision and hearing screenings, health services and CPR/ first aid  training
  • Orientation for Memphis City School administrators, nurses, and counselors on the eight components of the school health model
  • Support and participation in School Health Advisory Council meetings
  • A wellness and health promotion program for school personnel, students, and parents
  • Assistance to assure participation in CDC healthy initiatives such as Youth Tobacco Survey, School Health Profile, and EPSDT
  • Case management of students who have asthma and diabetes- Type I or Type II
  • Consultation by a psychologist or psychiatrist to improve student's mental, emotional, and social health through individual or group assessments, interventions, and referrals

Contact Le Bonheur Coordinated School Health at: (731) 984-9953

Links to Comprehensive School Health Programs

Asthma Management

In collaboration with the Coordinated School Health Program, Maternal and Child Health works to address asthma management by providing technical assistance  as it relates to school –aged children by phone consultation and referrals to resources specializing in respiratory ailments. Asthma may begin at an early age and at least one in ten children and one in twenty adults are afflicted.  20 million Americans and more than 100,000 Tennessee children suffer from asthma.  Rates are highest in black male children and black adult women.

Asthma is a chronic disorder causing distressing episodes of coughing, wheezing,  stridor, shortness of breath (dyspnea) and chest tightness due to constriction of the bronchial airways. Symptoms may range from mild to life-threatening. Diagnosis is based on clinical examination, analysis of family and medical history, use of peak flow meter or more formal lung studies.

Although there is no cure, most children with asthma may participate in normal activities of daily living including sports, based on their physician’s recommendation. The most effective treatment is avoidance of  triggers of an asthma attack.  These vary with the individual child but could include dust, pet dander, mold,  smoke, fragrances, fumes, cold dry air,  exercise and extreme emotions.  Symptoms are also managed by use of pocket-sized inhalers of bronchodilators or corticosteroids. Patient education is critical on correct use of prescribed medications, any limitations on physical activity and modifications to the child’s environment. An Asthma Task Force of public and private stakeholders assembles quarterly with plans to develop a state wide asthma plan promoting patient education.

Resources

Healthy Start


Healthy Start

Healthy Start is an intensive home visiting program for first time parents. Its goals are health promotion and child abuse prevention. Eligible families may begin the program during the time period of the third trimester of pregnancy through the child turning four months of age. Families may remain in the program until the child is five years of age. The major components of Healthy Start are as follows:

Family Needs Assessment:

  1. Screening of hospital records
  2. Assessment interview
  3. Referrals/follow-up  

Home Visiting:

  1. Intensive home-based family support and education
  2. Creative outreach
  3. 24-hour availability
  4. Parent support/lay counseling under professional supervision
  5. Parent-child interaction curriculum and interventions
  6. Linkage with a medical home
  7. Referrals and advocacy
  8. Parent groups
  9. Participant levels (varied intensity of service, based on need)
  10. Long-term follow-up to age 5
  11. Child development screening
  12. Child health tracking (well-care, immunizations)

Tennessee Healthy Start Programs

Anderson County Healthy Start
12 Van Hicks Road
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Phone: (865) 482-4044

Jackson-Madison Co. General Hospital
Women and Children's Center
708 West Forest Avenue
Jackson, TN 38301-3956
Phone: (901) 425-6954
Fax: (901) 425-3143
Chester, Crockett and Madison Counties

The Center for Family Development
Healthy Families
100 East Side Square
Shelbyville, TN 37160
Phone: (931) 684-4676
Fax: (931) 684-5140
Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Lincoln, Marshall and Moore Counties

Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center
2400 Poplar Avenue, Suite 318
Memphis, TN 38112
Phone: (901) 327-4766
Fax: (901) 327-6135
Shelby County

Gateway Health System
Social Work Department
1771 Madison Street
Clarksville, TN 37043
Phone: (931) 645-3976
Fax: (931) 551-1169
Montgomery and Stewart Counties

Metro. Nashville/Davidson Co. Health Department
311 23rd Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 880-2159
Fax: (615) 880-2190
Davidson County

Exchange Club/Holland Stephens Center
403 University Street
Livingston, TN 38570
Phone: (931) 823-6432
Fax: (931) 823-7036
Jackson, Overton, Putnam and White Counties

University of Tennessee - Martin
Dept. of Human Environmental Services
410 Clement Hall
Martin, TN 38238-5045
Phone: (901) 587-7863
Fax: (901) 587-7109
Benton, Carroll, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Obion and Weakley Counties

Helen Ross McNabb Center
600 Arthur Street
Knoxville, TN 37921
Phone: (865) 523-8695
Fax: (865) 541-6691
Blount, Jefferson, Knox and Loudon Counties

TN Department of Health Coordinator
TN Dept. of Health, MCH
5th Floor, Cordell Hull Building
425 Fifth Ave. N.
Nashville, TN 37247-4701
Phone: (615) 741-0329

Abstinence

Abstinence Education Program

In May of 2009, President Obama announced that he would zero out all funding for abstinence education and replace it with $178 million to “prevent teen pregnancy.”

The House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies passed the Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations bill and in doing so eliminated traditional sources of abstinence-only-until marriage programs.

The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to end funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs and to put resources into programs that promote only adolescent health.

The Tennessee Abstinence Education Program has effectively ended due to termination of federal funding.

Websites

Complimentary Resources

HUGS

Help Us Grow Up Successful (HUGS)

Baby in Mother's Arms

Developed by the Tennessee Department of Health, Help Us Grow Successfully also known as HUGS is a home visiting program that also coordinates additional services for pregnant and postpartum women up to two years and children ages birth through five years. HUGS coordinators can assist clients in getting health care as well as social, educational, and many other necessary services to ensure Tennessee’s babies are born healthy and grow up healthy.

Examples of HUGS coordinator activities include the following home visiting services:
• Developing and implementing an individualized service plan.
• Providing assistance to access health care, social and educational services.
• Following up on all missed medical and social service appointments.
• Providing parenting education and age appropriate child development learning opportunities to address identified needs.
• Assisting prenatal and postpartum women in family planning methods.
• Providing or facilitating grief counseling for post-partum women who have lost a child.

For more information on the program or eligibility, call Maternal and Child Health at (615) 741-7353, or call one of the local HUGS offices near you.

Help Us Grow Successfully Offices

Help Us Grow Successfully
Metro-Nashville Davidson
County Health Department
311 23rd Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37203
615-862-7942

Help Us Grow Successfully
Upper Cumberland
Regional Office
200 West 10th Street
Cookeville, TN 38501
931-528-7531

Help Us Grow Successfully
Knox County
Health Department
140 Dameron Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37917
865-215-5193
Help Us Grow Successfully
East Tennessee Regional Office
1522 Cherokee Trail
Knoxville, TN 37920
865-546-9221

Help Us Grow Successfully
Chattanooga-Hamilton County
Health Department
921 East Third Street
Chattanooga, TN 37403
423-209-8080

Help Us Grow Successfully
Southeast Tennessee
Regional Office
State Office Building
540 McCallie Avenue, Suite 450
Chattanooga, TN 37402
423-634-3124

Help Us Grow Successfully
West Tennessee Regional Office
295 Summar Street
Jackson, TN 38301
731-421-6769

Help Us Grow Successfully
Jackson Madison County
804 North Parkway
Jackson, TN 38305
731-423-3020

Help Us Grow Successfully
Mid-Cumberland
Regional Health Office
710 Hart Lane
Nashville, TN 37243
615-650-7091

Help Us Grow Successfully
Memphis-Shelby County
Health Department
814 Jefferson Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
901-544-7380

Help Us Grow Successfully
Northeast Tennessee
Regional Office
1233 Southwest Avenue
Extension
Johnson City, TN 37064
423-979-3200 Ext. 189

Help Us Grow Successfully
Sullivan County Regional
Health Department
P.O. Box 630
154 Blountville Bypass
Blountville, TN 37617
423-279-2777

Help Us Grow Successfully
Sullivan County Regional
Health Department
1041 East Sullivan Street
Kingsport, TN 37660
423-224-1600

Help Us Grow Successfully
South Central Regional Office
1216 Trotwood Avenue
Columbia, TN 38401
931-380-2532