SP-081 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

" . , , Ramsey County Health Services The purpose of the county health center is to offer preventive health services and education to the community. The services of the Ramsey County Health Depart- ment are available to all residents of Ramsey County, and most of the services are free or on a donation basis. The center provides education in such areas as hypertension, breast self-examination, and how to reduce the .risk of heart attack. Services include a clinic which is con- ductedmonthly at the CRC and focuses on the family aspect of fertility and birth control, and a nutrition counseling program which offers individual and group conseling an die'tary problems such as low salt diets, high potassium diets, obesity, etc. A Women-Infants-Children (WI C) Feeding Program provides supplemental foods to those expectant or nursing mothers who have been certified by a WIC staff member as re- quiring additional dietary supplements, and to children from infancy to five years of age. Adult Health Screening includes review of the client's health history, a physical assessment conducted by a Ramsey County Health Nurse, and referral, if necessary, to a physician. The health service does not diagnose or give treatment, but a written referral is provided to the doctor, if desired. In a program called "Grow Power" children are given the advantage of early and periodic screening to identify youngsters who may have problems whch could slow their growth. A well trained staff checks on the child's TOTAL growth, not just on his physical growth. Examinations are made in such areas as vision, hearing, teeth, nutritional status, learning development, emotional development, and immun- izations status. After a child's initial screening, he should be checked period- ically until age 21. The program, referred to as EPS, (Early and Periodic Screening) charges a fee based on ability to pay. Since the program has been housed at the CRC, they have served a total of 4,398 patients. Ramsey County Mental Health Family counseling is available, as is individual counseling, diagnostic services, and free chemical dependency evaluation. Group activities are planned for young- sters with emotional problems. Referral is made to appropriate resources if, nec- essary. Efforts are being made to work with churches, schools, and other community organizations, as well as with groups at the Reso~rce Center, to help eliminate duplication of services among agencies. Direct counseling and referral services are on an appointment basis. A sliding fee schedule allows indivirluals to pay according to their ability. To date the Mental Health Unit within the CRC has served l~\ clients and over 40 families. Future plans call for expanded programs and services for 1979-80. Community Corrections The Juvenile Division of Ramsey County Community Corrections is a "satellite" Juvenil~ Probati.on Unit. The department's basic responsibility is to provide protect10n to the public, humane individualized service to the clients, and to reduce the tendency of offenders to repeat their criminal acts. ~11 cases are a~s~gned to the branch office by the court system for reasons rang- 1ng from non-cr1m1nal acts such as truancy, to more serious crimes against persons or property.