Being a pregnant and having a new baby is a wonderful experience, yet it can be scary too.  Whether you are experiencing a pregnancy for the first time or the fourth time, each experience is different and can create new challenges and concerns.  The more you can learn with each pregnancy, the better you will be able to care for yourself and your baby, and the healthier you both will be.  That’s why we are now providing group sessions to all pregnant patients who receive their prenatal care in Salina.

These group sessions are called “Becoming a Mom ” and they will assist you to:

-Interact with other pregnant women

-Share your experiences and concerns

-Learn more about common pregnancy experiences

-Learn more about labor and delivery

-Learn how to be successful with breastfeeding

-Learn how to calm your baby

Come and learn…. And earn FREE BABY GIFTS for attending.  Gifts include diapers and other baby items.  Child care is available; it MUST be registered for in advance.

The Becoming a Mom prenatal group education program is available to all expecting mothers and their support person(s).  To register or for additional class information contact us at 785-833-7334 or 785-833-7326, or you can Email Us.

Becoming a Mom group session calendar in English or Spanish.

Becoming a Mom printable brochure.

The Saline County Breastfeeding Coalition was formed in November 2007.  It began out of concern by several local agencies over the lack of adequate support services in our community for breastfeeding mothers.  In a nutshell, the goal of the coalition is to join local resources to make ample resources available to promote and support higher initiation and duration rates of breastfeeding in our community.  If you also have a strong desire for this goal, please join our coalition.

How do I get help with breastfeeding issues?

Feel free to contact our WIC Breastfeeding Counselor, Mona at 785-826-6603 Monday through Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm (after hours at 785-820-7207). 

La Leche League of Salina meets twice a month at the Salina Public Library in the Prescott Room.  Check out their website for dates and times.

You can request the MCH Home Visitor Program by calling the Saline County Health Department at 785-826-6600 and asking for the Healthy Start Home Visitor.

Another resource is the Salina Regional Health Center, Birth Center  at 785-452-6663.

There is also a 24-hour breastfeeding hotline: 877-4-LALECHE (877-452-5324)

Other Online websites to check out: www.ks breastfeeding.org, www.kansaslll.org, and www.kellymom.com.

The Maternal & Child Health (MCH) Home Visitor program is free to qualifying persons and provides a home visit to expectant and new parents in Saline County.  A Home Visitor provides information and support related to pregnancy health and becoming a new parent, often through a one-time visit. Postpartum families delivering a baby at Salina Regional Health Center (SRHC) are offered a home visit following hospital discharge to receive information and follow-up on postpartum care, newborn care, breastfeeding, infant weight checks, postpartum depression screening, and community resources for families.

Other Services a Home Visitor Can Tell You About

Our home visitors can also make referrals and give you information on other community services to help you provide the best for your family, including:

Supplemental food for women, infant and children (WIC)

Lifestyle change programs – stop smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, etc.

Financial help – emergency food, food stamps, health care, and emergency assistance

Obtaining licensed childcare and/or childcare assistance

Adult education – GED, high school diploma, how to speak English

Counseling – individual, relationship, grief, etc.

Family planning

Pregnancy health information and case management services (M&I)

Child development services

Help with being a parent (Heartland Healthy Families and Parents as Teachers)

Give us a call at 785-826-6600 to determine if you are eligible for MCH Home Visitor program.

The Maternal & Infant (M&I) program is free to qualifying parents and offers support and education program for pregnant women.  It includes a series of home or clinic visits (typically one per month) and provides education on pregnancy, labor and delivery, infant care, breastfeeding, etc.  The program can also help locate resources for financial assistance, counseling, education, housing, transportation, etc.

Visits are on-going throughout the pregnancy (typically one per month), and may continue up until the baby has reached one year of age.

Information given is more extensive; it may include viewing a video series.

Our home visitor is a registered nurse and/or a licensed social worker who works as a case manager and educator.

The home visitor has also had their own experience with pregnancy, childbearing, and breastfeeding.

Other Services a Home Visitor Can Tell You About

Our home visitors can also make referrals and give you information on other community services to help you provide the best for your family, including:

Expectant Parent Classes (Lamaze)

Supplemental food for women, infant and children (WIC)

Life-style change programs – stop smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, etc.

Financial help – emergency food, food stamps, health care and emergency assistance

Obtaining licensed childcare and/or childcare assistance

Adult education – GED, high school diploma, how to speak English

Counseling – individual, relationship, grief, etc.

Family planning

Child development services

Help with being a parent

Other available community services to help you provide the best for your family

Give us a call at 785-826-6600 to determine if you are eligible for M&I program.

The Kansas Special Health Care Needs (SHCN) program provides specialty medical services to infants, children, and youth up to age 22 who have eligible medical conditions, as well as persons of all ages with metabolic or genetic conditions screened through the Newborn Screening Program. Services available include:

One-time diagnostic evaluation

Treatment services

Case management

All services must be prior authorized and based upon financial eligibility.  Additional information about services and financial guidelines can be found online at www.kdheks.gov/shcn.

Eligible Medical Conditions:

Cardiac: congenital heart defects, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia and other select cardiac conditions

Craniofacial:  cleft lip and/or plate, hydrocephalus and other craniofacial anomalies

Hearing loss or chronic ear infections

Genetic/Metabolic Conditions:  phenylketonuria (PKU), congenital hypothyroidism, galactosemia, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, hemophilia, other identified by newborn screening*.

Gastrointestinal problems, requiring surgery

Genitourinary problems, requiring surgery

Burns, requiring plastic surgery or compression garments

Spina bifida

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Neurology:  seizures, severe spinal injury

Vision:  congenital cataracts, glaucoma and retinal disorders

Orthopedic:  congenital anomalies or acquired conditions leading to physical disabilities, joint conditions, developmental problems requiring surgical correction and muscle problems of disabling nature.

*Note: Only the genetic/metabolic conditions screened through the Newborn Screening program are eligible for services unless otherwise noted.  Persons with these conditions may be served into adulthood, providing they meet the required eligibility criteria.

Special Bequest:

The Special Bequest Fund allows for specific requests for financial support of medical equipment, specialized care, education or other needed items that can improve health status, function, or quality of life for those with special health care needs.  All requests are subject to Special Bequest Commissioner Approval.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Kansas resident
• Meets the age requirements (based upon diagnosed condition)
• Diagnosis meets medical eligibility (treatment services and case management only)

One-time diagnostic services may be authorized for individuals under 22 years of age who are at risk, or suspected of having, a significant medical disability or condition.

For more information call Tricia at785-826-6600, ext. 7334 or Email us.

Office location:                        Topeka Administrative Office

                                                1000 SW Jackson, Suite 220

                                                Topeka, KS 66612

                                                Phone: 785-296-1313  Fax: 785-296-8616

                                                Toll Free: 800-332-6262

Regional Offices:                    Salina, 785-826-6600

                                                Kansas City, 913-588-6343

                                                Wichita, 316-962-2021

                                                Garden City, 620-272-3600

                                                Hays, 785-628-9440

                                                Pittsburg, 620-231-5411

Kansas Resource Guide: an information service designed to connect Kansans and service providers with resources, 800-332-6262.