St. Mary’s County Health Department offers a variety of health promotion services for infants, young children, and adolescents.
Administrative Care Coordination Unit (ACCU)
The ACCU provides education and outreach to Medical Assistance recipients to increase awareness of medical assistance programs and local resources. Referrals to ACCU services are received primarily from health care providers or social service workers. Individuals may self-refer to this program. To download more information about Administrative Care Coordination/Ombudsman Services, click here. For more information, call 301-475-4330.
Asthma Control Program
The Asthma Control Program at the St. Mary’s County Health Department is helping residents get better control of their asthma. This can dramatically improve a person’s quality of life and also lower the health care costs associated with asthma. The program involves a variety of efforts and partners working together to help residents with asthma manage their condition, reduce environmental triggers of asthma, and assist health care providers who take care of patients with asthma. Some children with asthma may also receive a free home visit from a health department nurse. To learn more, click here.
Child Care Facility Inspection Program
This program supports the agencies that regulate and permit licensed and family child care facilities, foster care homes, alternatives for youth homes, adoption applicants, and adult foster care homes. The health department responds to requests by applicants and organizations to provide basic sanitary surveys of the residence to be permitted as a care site. To learn more, click here.
Healthy Families
Healthy Families is a nationally recognized evidence-based home visiting initiative designed to support pregnant women and first-time parents of children aged 0 – 5. Healthy Families services improve birth outcomes, promote healthy child development and enhance family functioning. This free service connects families to community and health resources and provides on-going in-home support for new parents. To learn more, click here.
Immunizations & Flu Vaccine
Immunizations are one of the most important ways to protect children, adults, and families from serious diseases. The influenza (flu) vaccine is recommended annually everyone age 6 months and older, including pregnant women. To learn more, click here.
Infants and Toddlers Program
St. Mary’s County Public Schools and the Department of Social Services assist families in evaluating and finding help for children who may have developmental delays. The program is a family-centered system of early intervention services for children from birth to age three with suspected or diagnosed developmental delays and disabilities. For additional information or to make a referral please call (301) 475-5511 ext. 32223. For more information and online referral, visit: referral.mditp.org/index.html.
Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP)
Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP) is a health insurance program for children up to age 19 and pregnant women of any age. This program provides comprehensive health care coverage to children and pregnant women in families with low to average incomes. MCHP is designed to cover health care costs. Income before taxes and other deductions are considered in determining eligibility. To learn more, click here.
Nurse-Family Partnership
The Nurse-Family Partnership is an evidence-based home health initiative that provides first-time parents health and wellness support services during their pregnancy and into the first two years of their child’s life. The personal nurse home visitor coordinates with and enhances the routine prenatal and family care parents and baby receive through their medical providers. To learn more, click here.
Nutrition for Women, Infants & Children (WIC)
The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program is a supplemental nutrition education program to promote and maintain the health of pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants and children from birth to five years of age. To learn more, click here.
Quit Tobacco
Tobacco use and exposure is the number one cause of preventable deaths in this country. The St. Mary’s County Health Department encourages all tobacco users to quit tobacco in order to better support their health and the health of others. The Department offers free tobacco cessation classes and other resources for persons who are ready to quit using tobacco. To learn more, click here.
Thrive By Three
The Thrive By Three program helps ensure pregnant moms in St. Mary’s County have access to adequate, effective, and equitable healthcare. The program focuses on pregnant and postpartum women previously disconnected from care and thus at higher risk of poor health outcomes. The Thrive By Three program will provide care coordination and appointment scheduling assistance for prenatal and primary care, behavioral health care, and dental visits. To refer for this program, click here.
Youth Mentoring
Mentoring youth as they navigate the challenges of childhood and teen years can help build resiliency, mental well-being, and important life skills. Mentoring can be a key factor in improving academic performance, healthy relationships, and social skills, while also preventing youth drug misuse and addiction. SMCHD can help youth (age 12-18) get connected with a local mentoring program that best suits their individual needs, personality, and history! To learn more, click here.