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Dubuque County VNA Public Health Program
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Providing Public Health for Dubuque County
Caring for those with Long Term Health Needs
Services to Enable People to Remain in their own homes
- Home Care Aide and Homemaker Service - Supportive services, including assistance with personal cares and homemaking for low income elderly and chronically ill clients in their homes. Services are available on a sliding fee scale for those earning above low income guidelines or through the Dubuque County Public Health Services grant for those who qualify.
- Adult Health Maintenance Visits
Supportive nursing care for individuals with stable chronic health conditions. Service is directed toward those who are no longer eligible for Medicare skilled home care.
- Respite Services
Respite service allows caregivers time outside the home for errands or personal time away from caregiving responsiblities.
- Representative Payee
This program provides clients with assistance in budgeting and money management. Service enables many Representative Payee clients to remain living in teh community instead of in a facility.
Community Services (Public Health) Representative Payee
Communicable Disease Follow-Up
Provides Dubuque County with investigation service for reportable infectious diseases, client education, assistance with access to medical treatment, and monitoring of medication treatment regime. Service is critical to limit spread of infectious disease and limit outbreaks.
HIV and Hepatitis C Testing
Programs provide free and confidential testing, screening, follow-up counseling, and referral. Includes risk assessment for Hepatitis C Testing and provides Hepatitis A and B vaccination. Education for clients on healthy practices to reduce risk for HIV and Hepatitis.
Breast and Cervical Cancer Program
Provides referrals and assistance to low income women over 50 years of age to obtain pap smears and mammograms through community health providers.
Child Health Case Management and Care Coordination
Focuses on ensuring that a child and his/her family's long term needs are addressed helping families establish a medical and dental "home" wiht a local provider. Helps families get health insurance coverage or with application for Iowa Medicaid or hawk-i programs.
Immunization Clinics
Offers recommended immunizations for infants and children up to 18 years of age for uninsured and underinsured families who cannot afford to obtain the immunizations from a physician office. These clinics are a component of the Federal and State of Iowa Vaccine for Children Program. Contact the VNA office for eligibility criteria. 2010 Immuniztion calendar.
Oral Health Services
Provides a variety of services to at risk, uninsured and Medicaid children including education and screenings through WIC and VNA clinics. Also provides referrals to dentists' offices and limited funding for children with dental needs. Sealant clinics conducted in Dubuque Community schools provide exams and sealants for second third and fourth grade school children each year.
Lead Poisoning Prevention
Program providing lead screening, case management, and cleaning services if needed, for families at risk for lead poisoning. Lead screenings are done at immunization clinics and on scheduled days at the VNA office. Contact the VNA office to schedule an appointment.
Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) Program
Assists families who qualify for Medicaid in setting up well child physicals, immunizations, dental care, and other preventive medical and dental services in the community.
hawk-i
(Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa) is a low-cost or no-cost health care program designed for children ages 0-19 to assure access to medical and dental care. Many families are unaware that hawk-i exists or that they may qualify. Hundreds of children in the Dubuque community will unnecessarily spend time sick and in pain because their parents are unaware of the State hawk-i insurance program. The VNA's goal is to give every child in this community access to health care. Contact either VNA at 563-556-6200 Ext. 1927 to speak with the VNA hawk-i Outreach Coordinator or call hawk-i at 1-800-257-8563 with any questions regarding applications, eligibility, or coverage.
Preventive Protective Home Visits
Home visits are made by Family Advocates and/or social workers to families at increased risk for child abuse and/or neglect. Referrals are received through the VNA's own Perinatal Mother/Baby Program, Department of Human Services, and other community agencies. Program assists families in obtaining needed healthcare and social services in the community. This program is voluntary and the goal is to promote appropriate parenting and child care skills.
1st Five Healthy Development Program
VNA coordinator assists doctors offices with resources to ensure children are on track with age-appropriate physical and mental development. Also promotes screening for maternal depression which can affect a child's ability to grow and develop.
Collaboration with Dubuque Empowerment Board
The VNA works wtih Dubuque Empowerment to ensure children 0-5 years are healthy and ready to learn when they start school. Empowerment helps fund two VNA Child Care Nurse Consultants, who work wirth day care centers and registered homes to ensure quality day care in Dubuque County. Empowerment also funds oral health preschool and education and screenings as well as hawk-i Outreach, urgent care for children and the VNA immunization program.
Dubuque Racing Association
Since 1987, DRA has helped the VNA fulfill its mission by providing funding for programs and structural improvements for building. This funding has allowed the VNA to focus on our primary mission for a healthier community.
Public Health Community Health Assessment and Health Improvement Plan
The VNA assists the Dubuque Board of Health with the county Community Health Assessment which is required by Iowa law every five years. Focus groups of community partners help identify needs and a five-year Health Improvement Plan is developed.
Continue planning for Healthy Dubuque 2010 goals and complete Dubuque County Community Needs Assessment for 2010
Board of Health Infrastructure
The VNA collaborates with the Dubuque County Board of Health and Supervisors to ensure essential services within the Core Public Health Functions of Assessment, Policy Development, and Assurance are met. This is accomplished through performing the Ten Essential Services of Public Health which includes:
- Monitoring the health status of the community
- Diagnosing and investigating health problems
- Informing educating, and empowering people about health issues
- Mobilizing community partnerships
- Developing policies and plans that support individual and community health issues
- Enforcing laws and regulations to protect health and safety
- Linking people to needed personal health services and assuring provision of healthcare with otherwise unavailable
- Assuring a competent public health workforce
- Evaluating effectiveness, accessibility and quality of health services
- Promoting research for new insights and innovating solutions to health problems
List of Programs and Priorities
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