With Mother's Day just a heartbeat away, the Pima County Health Department (PCHD) is nudging new and expectant parents to explore its array of maternal health programs. The initiatives, ranging from breastfeeding assistance to infant safe sleep education, come with a budget-friendly twist—many are free, others low-cost, and some priced based on income, ensuring that finances don't hinder families from receiving support. According to information shared by the Pima County Health Department, under no circumstances will individuals be turned away due to inability to pay.
While hundreds have taken advantage of these services, PCHD's goal is to boost these figures. "Families, caregivers, and maternal figures need to know about these services because they are the key to aiding in injury prevention and keeping children safe," said Cytlalli Gonzalez, the maternal child health program coordinator for PCHD, in a statement obtained from their website. The context of May also being National Women’s Health Month further underscores the Department's commitment to maternal well-being.
Another popular offering, as detailed by PCHD, is the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program—a bargain for qualifying families that need nutrition and breastfeeding support. On the menu are free food staples like cheese, cereal, and vegetables, in addition to breastfeeding aids, courtesy of WIC. For those looking to apply, PCHD encourages calling their office to set an appointment.
And with the persistent specter of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) looming, PCHD's Infant Safe Sleep program steps up, offering education and free sleeping gadgets like the Pack and Play bassinet. Despite efforts to educate parents on the ABC's of safe sleep, Gonzalez noted an uptick in SIDS cases, emphasizing the need for parents to keep infants alone, on their back, and in a crib. The Responsible Teen Driver Safety, meanwhile, strives to curb the leading cause of teen fatalities—car crashes—by promoting safe driving practices through partnerships with local schools.
Not to be overlooked is the Gun Safety initiative, now at the top of the demand list, which provides free gun locks at various locations including PCHD clinics and county libraries, as stated by Gonzalez in an interview with PCHD. This move aims to mitigate the risks of accidental discharge and unauthorized child access to firearms. On another front, PCHD shines a light on the shadow of sexually transmitted diseases with free or affordable testing services, a shot in the arm in a state grappling with high rates of congenital syphilis.
Preventative care, vaccines, and vital records round out PCHD's suite of services, backing up Gonzalez's conviction about the life-saving value of these programs. Jessica Dalton, public health nursing manager, echoes this sentiment, "It takes a village to raise a child. Let us help you build your village with all the programs that can help," she told PCHD. For the full scoop on PCHD's health offerings, curious parties are directed to visit their webpage.
