Maternal & Child Health Program

Maternal Child Health (MCH) Program

The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) program works on a local, community, state, and national level to provide and or assure quality health services are delivered to mothers, children, and families in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin MCH program focuses on the following health initiatives:

Increasing healthy birth outcomes
Promoting and assuring comprehensive primary care for children ages birth to 21, including children with special health care needs
Promoting healthy lifestyles among school-age youth, ages 6-21, including children with special health care needs
Assuring access to safe, healthy child care up to age six, including children with special health care needs
Preconception, pregnancy testing and planning

Newborn Visits

For mothers who have recently delivered, Bayfield County public health nurses are available to do home visits through the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) program. These visits are available and offered to all Bayfield County women who have recently delivered a baby; this service is free of cost to the mother or family. A woman does not need to be enrolled in the Bayfield County Health Department prenatal (PNCC) program in order to have a home visit after delivery, although she may be eligible to receive services during her pregnancy in addition to postpartum.

During these visits, public health nurses can provide education and support on postpartum health, breastfeeding, infant cares, normal infant development, milestone moments, home safety, child passenger safety, and more. Additionally, the public health nurse can do height and weight checks on the newborn; this can be especially helpful for mothers who are worried that their baby is gaining enough weight in the early weeks. These visits are available during the first two months of the newborn's life, or for premature babies up to two months after they are released from NICU.

Interested in a home visit for you and your newborn?

Oftentimes, you will be offered a public health nurse home visit while still in the hospital by the hospital obstetrics staff. Simply sign permission for the hospital to send a referral to your local health department. If you didn't have the opportunity to have a referral made at the hospital, and would still like a visit for you and your newborn, contact Bayfield County Health Department at (715) 373-6109 and ask to speak with a public health nurse.

Immunization Services

In addition to the MCH home visiting program for newborn health checks, Bayfield County Health Department offers a variety of services for both infants and children. Immunization services are offered to children from birth through age 18 through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program free of charge. To find out if your child is eligible for the VFC program, go to the Pregnancy, Infant and Children Services page for more information. Public health nurses are also available to answer parents' questions about childhood immunizations and the recommended scheduling for vaccinations. Feel free to call the Bayfield County Health Department at 715-373-6109 to speak with a public health nurse regarding any immunization questions.

Child Passenger Safety

Worried about whether your child's car seat is installed securely? Questions about when to move your child from a rear-facing car seat to a forward-facing car seat? Check out our Car Seat Safety page for helpful tips and common mistakes parents make when installing their child's car seat. Also, Bayfield County Health Department has Certified Child Passenger Safety technicians available to check proper installment of car seats or booster seats; please call Bayfield County Health Department at 715-373-6109 to schedule an appointment.