Health
The Hertford-Northampton Smart Start Partnership for Children works with many different local agencies that provide health related services to children and families that work to identify needed programs and services as well as resources to meet those needs. Often, programs exist but are not being utilized. Sometimes duplication of services are noted. The Partnership was formed to eliminate those duplications and fill the voids in the service delivery system.
Through a collaboration with the Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, the Hertford County Public Health Authority provides screening for infants and young children treated at area hospitals for health and developmental problems, makes referrals for services, and provides inpatient education to new mothers.The Hertford County Public Health Authority also provides promotion and support to women who want to breastfeed their infants through the In-Home Breastfeeding Support Program.
The Northampton County Health Department is working hard to protect and improve the health of the people who live in our community. From childhood shots to septic tank system inspections, it provides a wide range of services to meet the needs of our citizens.The Health Department offers various clinics, screenings and support services to individuals and families.
If you feel that you have been exposed to and/or are experiencing symptoms of the Coronavirus, call your local health department for information on how to make an appointment for Covid-19 testing. For Northampton County residents, you may call 252-534-5841. For Hertford County residents, you may call 252-862-4054
Promoting healthy and safe early care and education environments.
Updated Guidance from CDC on Cleaning and Disinfecting
The Centers for Disease Control has updated their guidance for cleaning and disinfecting schools, child care and other community facilities.
The new guidance covers:
Updated guidance for cleaning and disinfection of soft (porous) surfaces
Updated links to EPA-registered disinfectant list
Added guidance for disinfection of electronics
Updated core disinfection/cleaning guidance
Click this link to visit the CDC website to read more.
The NC Resource Center was initiated by the NC Division of Public Health as a collaborative effort with the Division of Child Development and Early Education,
Smart Start, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). Created in response to the national Healthy Child Care America campaign in May 1995 and the establishment of Smart Start, the NC Resource Center forged partnerships within communities among early educators, health consultants, and consumers. Healthy Child Care North Carolina’s goal was to promote healthy and safe environments in child care.
In 1995, national leaders in the child care community developed a Blueprint for Action: 10 Steps That Communities Can Take to Help Families Care for Their Children. Healthy Child Care North Carolina focused on Step 9: Use Child Care Health Consultants to help develop and maintain healthy child care. From this, additional support for child care health consultation was established and included:
Research: The UNC Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, under a contract with the Division of Child Development, through its Quality Enhancement Project for Infants and Toddlers tracked and analyzed the activities of a specific group of CCHCs.
Technical Assistance: A statewide, toll free number supported as a health and safety resource for the child care community. The purpose of the technical assistance line is to link child care provider and consumers with quality health and safety consultation.
Resource Library: The Resource Library is located in the Division of Public Health in Raleigh and was created to serve the needs of CCHCs working with child care. The library has books, webinars, brochures, and materials, all available free of charge.
In 2001, the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Maternal and Child Healthassumed direction of the NC Resource Center through contracts with the NC Department of Health and Human Resources.
The Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center promotes healthy and safe indoor and outdoor environments for children
in early care and education settings through child care health consultation. Information, resources, referrals, technical assistance, and on-going support are available to the child health and child care communities.
For information related to child health and health and safety in child care, please explore their website at: http://healthychildcare.unc.edu/.
Contact the NC Resource Center using the online form or toll free number 1-800-367-2229. Anyone in the greater early care and education community is welcome to call!
Other Resources