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Maternal, Child & Adolescent Health
About Us
Every stage of life has unique challenges. The MCAH program empowers and educates parents and families each step of the way to improve the well-being of the kids in our community. Our MCAH nurses provide pregnant parents and families with young kids free home visits that are tailored to the families’ specific needs.
What We Do
Public health nurses (RN, PHN) can meet families in the comfort of their own home or by phone to provide:
- Information about health, caring for your baby, breast/chest feeding, development, parenting, safety, family planning, and more.
- Weight and height checks of babies and children
- Links to local services for healthcare, housing, food, transportation, day care, and more.
- Moving Beyond Depression Program for parents with postpartum depression or anxiety (see “Maternal Mental Health” tab below for more information).
Who Can Benefit
Reasons why a family might want home visits:
- Parents with health concerns during or after pregnancy
- Children with special health care needs
- Young and/or first-time parents
- Families without health insurance, are low-income, or are homeless
- Parents with postpartum depression or anxiety
- Families grieving the death of a child
How to contact us or sign up a family
MCAH toll-free main line: 1 (888) 301-1450
Jessica Ferrer, MCAH Director
(530) 265-1491, Jessica.Ferrer-PH@nevadacountyca.gov
Jeana McHugh, MCAH Program Coordinator
(530) 847-8293 (call or text), Jeana.McHugh@nevadacountyca.gov
Healthy Babies
A Home Visitor from Healthy Babies (HB) has the time to answer your questions and show you ways to encourage your baby at every stage of development. During home visits, new and expecting parents learn to solve problems, manage stress, and enjoy and understand their child at every stage, from infancy to kindergarten.
A Home Visitor can provide:
- Information about your growing baby
- Developmental screenings to make sure your baby is healthy and meeting their milestones
- Referrals for pre/post-natal depression
- Fun and engaging activities for you and your baby
- Connections with local resources to make sure you have everything you need
For more information or to sign up, visit their website or fill out a contact form in English or Spanish.
Young Parents Program
The Young Parents Program (YPP) is a program designed to enhance the health, educational achievement, economic, personal and societal integration and independence of pregnant and parenting adolescents through case management. There are two requirements that apply to eligibility. First, one must be expectant and or parenting and secondly 19 years old or younger at the time of referral. Case management is intended to assist young parents with completion and or enrollment of school and provide support with counseling, information, resources, strengths building, goal setting, and life decisions. YPP is a free and voluntary program for all Young Parents in Nevada County.
For more information: Call Silver Springs High School (530)272-2635
Brilliant Beginnings
This home visiting program is only for families already enrolled in CalWORKS. Please see more information: https://nevadacountyca.gov/3654/Brilliant-Beginnings
Moving Beyond Depression Program: A free, in-home cognitive behavioral therapy program for Nevada County parents who are experiencing depression during or after pregnancy. The family must be enrolled in one of the local home visiting programs to participate in Moving Beyond Depression. Parents in Moving Beyond Depression will receive 15 weekly sessions and a one month follow-up booster session from a licensed therapist. If you are interested in the program, talk to your home visitor. If you are not a home visiting client but are interested in Moving Beyond Depression, contact the MCAH program.
You are not alone and you are not to blame. Help is available. You will get better.
Help Line: 1.800.944.4773
Text in English: 800-944-4773 | Text en Español: 971-203-7773
Learn More | Postpartum Support International (PSI)
Nevada County Crisis Resources: 530-265-5811
More on Maternal Mental Health - CDPH
Safe sleep practices help lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and other sleep-related causes of death in babies. Always place baby on his or her back to sleep and provide plenty of tummy time play while awake and supervised. Learn more about the current recommendations for safe sleep or visit How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe.
More information on cannabis health, pregnancy and breastfeeding women here.
Breastfeeding Coalition of Nevada County
The Breastfeeding Coalition of Nevada County is a group of local community members and breastfeeding specialists whose mission is to improve the well-being of Nevada County families by protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding. The Coalition’s vision is a community free of barriers to breastfeeding, where all parents feel supported and successful in their breastfeeding goals. If you would like breastfeeding help, are interested in reliable information about pregnancy and infant feeding, would like to participate in local events that promote and support breastfeeding, or would like to join the coalition, visit the website.
Breastfeeding | CDC
Droplet (firstdroplets.com)
Link to list of local resources by need area for parents: Western Nevada County and Eastern Nevada County
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Erin Mettler
Interim Public Health Director
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Public Health
Physical Address
500 Crown Point Circle
Suite 110
Grass Valley, CA 95945
Phone 530-265-1450Fax 530-271-0894
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
All Services by
Appointment Only