services
for adults / Community Health
The Community Health Division is composed of registered nurses with varied levels of job specific training and certifications. They work directly with clients/families/childcare staff, and collaborate with the health care team to promote optimal health for individuals and families in Buncombe County.
Our goal is to provide comprehensive assessments, interventions, and referrals to support services and health education for our clients in the convenience of their home or a community setting. We take care of children in Child Care Centers, high-risk prenatal clients, postpartum and newborn clients in their home, and disabled adults and children that qualify for nursing home placement, but whose families choose to keep them at home with medical support services.
| County Agency | Health Center |
|---|---|
| Address | 35 Woodfin Asheville, NC 28801 |
| Hours of Operation | Tuesday, Wednesday,
Friday: 8:00am - 5:00pm (Last appointment 4:00pm) Monday and Thursday: 8:00am - 7:00pm (Last appointment at 5:45pm) |
| Contact Info | Connie Roberts, RN Community Health Supervisor (828) 250-5072 connie.roberts@buncombecounty.org |
Community Health Services include: Community Programs
- Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
A registered nurse, and environmental health staff member work together to determine the cause of a child's elevated lead level, make recommendations to resolve exposure to the lead source, and monitor the child's lead level until it reaches a normal level.
- Adult Day Health Specialist
A registered nurse acts as a consultant to adult day health programs and gives guidance to new programs seeking certification.
- Child Care Programs
Contracted Nursing Services with Head Start (Community Action Opportunity) and Early Head Start (Asheville City Pre-school)
A registered nurse completes physical assessments and screenings and assists with medical needs of all children enrolled in Head Start or Early Head Start Programs. The nurse provides staff training for the care of children with special needs, and for OSHA, CPR, and first aid requirements, as needed.
- Child Care Health Consultant Program (Smart Start)
Registered nurses work with child care centers and homes in Buncombe County. The nurses perform health screenings, physical assessments, make community referrals, and provide technical support and education to the child care staff on issues related to health, safety, and nutrition. Centers that are interested in improving their center quality receive the technical assistance needed in health and safety to raise their star rating. Maternal/Child Home Visiting Programs
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Early Intervention Liaison Program (Smart Start)
Developmental specialists work in the community with physician practices that serve children (0 to 5 years of age), and offer support and resources for developmental screening. The developmental specialists will begin providing the Parents as Teacher curriculum in July 2008 to children 0-3 years of age and in the fall of 2008 for children 3-5 years of age. Children with identified developmental delays will be the primary target.
- High Risk Medically Indicated Prenatal Service
Registered nurses visit high risk medically indicated prenatal clients in their home to assess for complications of pregnancy, educate on signs/symptoms of prenatal complications to report to their physician, and offer support services to promote a healthy pregnancy outcome.
- Postpartum and Newborn Home Visiting Services
Registered nurses visit postpartum clients and their newborns in their home within 60 days of delivery to assess for complications, educate on postpartum and newborn care, and offer support and referrals to community resources.
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Prenatal Loss Counseling
A registered nurse, certified in SIDS counseling, makes a home visit to parents who have experienced a SIDS related loss. The nurse answers questions, makes referrals as appropriate, and provides support while assisting the family with the grief process. Also, registered nurses are available to make a home visit to a woman that has recently experienced a fetal loss and needs extra support.
Free language assistance is also available in the Community Health Division.
Appointment Procedure
To obtaininformation about any of our programs or to refer a client to the Perinatal Home Visiting Program, please call 250-5055 Monday – Friday between 8:00am to 5:00pm.
How are services paid for?
The Community Health Division services are paid for by grants, contracts with Department of Social Services/Early Head Start/Head Start and the Buncombe County Health Center.
Perinatal Home Visiting Services and some nursing services provided within the Early Head Start and Head Start Program are billable to Medicaid, while there is no charge to the client if they do not have Medicaid.
Contact Information
Connie Roberts, RN
Community Health Supervisor
(828) 250-5072
connie.roberts@buncombecounty.org