What We Do
Public Health staff serves Kittson County by assessing the community’s health, planning and developing health policies, and assuring that all persons have access to health services.
Public Health Goals
To prevent disease and promote, improve, and protect the health and quality of life for all persons living in Kittson County.
Priority Areas
Family Health
- Breast Feeding Support (see poster below)
- Child Passenger Safety (see poster below)
- Child and Teen Check Ups (see poster to the right)
Child and Teen Checkups services are for young people who receive healthcare benefits through Medical Assistance, including independent teens and young adults up to age 21, as well as young parents. For more detailed information on Child and Teen Checkups visit the following link https://www.freechildcheckups.com/#home.
- Child and Youth with Special Health Needs
Children and Youth with Special Health Needs (CYSHN) works to achieve public health policies that will provide more positive health outcomes and better serve children and youth with special health needs and their families throughout Minnesota.
- Family Home Visiting
Family home visiting (FHV) is a voluntary, home-based service. Family Home Visiting supports parents by providing education and resources to help support them in the role as their child’s first teacher
- Follow Along Program
With the Follow Along Program, you can learn how your child is moving, talking, seeing, hearing, playing, learning, acting and growing. You will get fun ideas in the mail about what to teach and at what age to teach it. You’ll also receive age-appropriate activity sheets and information regarding child growth and development.
- Newborn Home Visits
The public health office offers a newborn home visit. An RN will get measurements of the newborn, answer any questions the parents may have and provide resources that are available in our county.
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides states and territories with flexibility in operating programs designed to help low-income families with children achieve economic self-sufficiency.
School Health
Adult Health
- Correctional Health
Public Health nurses provide a variety of services to the offender population. They include preventative care screening, patient education, medication administration, and management of chronic conditions.
- Bingocize
The BingoCize Program provides a health education program that incorporates exercise, nutrition, and falls prevention within the game of bingo.
- Blood Pressure Screenings
Blood pressure assessment is available and includes a manual blood pressure assessment on the upper arm by a public health nurse. No cost.
- Foot Care
Foot care is provided by a public health nurse and includes a brief foot soak to soften toenails followed by drying and assessing the feet, toe nail trim. Lotion to feet and lower calf as desired to maintain skin. Cost is $20 cash or check paid to Kittson Healthcare. Please sign up on the serve sheet at each site ahead of time in order to allow for staffing to meet the demand for services. There may be circumstances that require a change from this schedule due to staffing. Please contact the site directly to be included on the schedule and to confirm date and time. Watch the Kittson County Enterprise Community Service Section for a printed schedule. Individuals ages 60 years and older may attend any of the available sites regardless of where they live. For additional questions, or to receive a monthly schedule please contact the Kittson Healthcare Public Health Department at 218-843-3662.
Collaborations
Kittson County Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force
The H.O.P.E. Coalition
Hallock Area Living at Home Program
Quin County Community Health Services
- Quin County Health Services (CHS) covers Roseau, Kittson, Marshall, Pennington, and Red Lake counties public health. Quin CHS works to protect, maintain, and improve the public health of all four counties.
Quin website - https://quinchs.com/
WIC - https://quinchs.com/wic/
SHIP - https://quinchs.com/ship/
