Newtown VNA Plans Free Child Health Clinic

The Newtown Visiting Nurse Association is sponsoring a Free Well Child Health Clinic on Thursday, January 25, from 9 am to noon at the VNA Memorial Health Center (also known as the Multi-Purpose Center), at 14 Riverside Road in Sandy Hook.

The purpose of the Child Health Clinic is to provide needed health care to infants and children of pre-school age by promoting an optimal state of physical and emotional health. It includes health screening, supervision, and necessary immunization to those who would otherwise not be under professional surveillance.

The Well Child Clinic is available to infants and children who may not have managed Medicaid or the Husky insurance but are in need of this health service. The service is free to Newtown infants and pre-school children in evaluated need, screened at time of referral.

For an appointment, please call 792-4120 and ask for Nurse Noraleen Dunphy. When calling for an appointment, families should indicate if they are in need of a ride to the clinic.

The objectives of the program are: a) To provide periodic evaluation of a child’s health status, with observations and tests which will determine whether or not a child may have unmet needs for medical care; b) To counsel parents regarding normal growth and development in relation to physical and psychological needs, and the importance of continuous health supervision; c) To prevent illness through immunizations; d) To treat minor illnesses and provide a continuity of care through appropriate referrals for those deviations from normal and illnesses which are detected needing follow-up; e) To maintain liaison with other agencies providing services for these families in order to have effective utilization of medical, nursing, and community resources.

The clinic will be conducted by professional visiting nurses together with the Board of Directors of the Newtown Visiting Association. The Newtown Visiting Nurse Association has been sponsoring a Free Well Child Clinic in Newtown for over 30 years.

At this clinic, information will also be distributed about the postpartum Doula services. “Doula” is a Greek word that signifies a woman dedicated to nurturing and supporting new mothers and families. Today’s postpartum Doula assists the new mother in the time following childbirth, in her home. She can assist with breastfeeding technique and positioning. She can help with baby care such as bathing and changing. She can spend time with the mom in conversation, giving emotional support, or a back massage, or simply creating a setting where mom can take a long bath or nap.