Family Health

Public Health
Breastfeeding

"Breastfeeding has many known health benefits for infants, children, and mothers and is a key strategy to improve public health. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants are exclusively breastfed for about the first 6 months with continued breastfeeding while introducing complementary foods for at least 1 year" - Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)


 
Benefits for Infants

Infants who are breastfed have reduced risks of:

  • Ear Infections
  • Asthma
  • Obesity
  • Type 1 Diabetes
  • Severe lower respiratory disease
  • Ear infections
  • Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
  • Diarrhea/vomiting

Benefits for Mothers

Breastfeeding can help lower a mother's  risks of:

  • High blood pressure
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Breast cancer

Need support or have questions? We’d love to connect you to our lactation counselors!

Please contact Laurie Robinson
Public Health 
320-591-1596
public.health@co.pine.mn.us


Do you want to get involved or need additional breastfeeding support? 

Milk Moms

Breastfeeding & You 

MN Breastfeeding Coalition

East Central Breastfeeding Coalition



Child Passenger Safety and Car Seat Program 


Pine County is here to help support families in our community, to make sure their children are safe while riding in their car, and to help make sure our kids have a safe car seat to travel in.

For some eligible residents, they can obtain a free car seat through insurance.

Currently, if you are at least 7 months pregnant and have Blue Plus Medicaid insurance or UCare Medicaid insurance, or have a child that has either of those insurances, you may be eligible for a free car seat!

We also have a limited number of free grant car seats each year, for those with low income or who are unable to buy their own car seat for their child.

In addition to distributing car seats, anyone who has questions about their car seat or car seat installation can call and ask for one of our Child Passenger Safety Technicians to help! (No cost.) We can help over the phone, or take a look at the car seat in person.

Child Passenger Safety

Target Car Seat Trade-In Event - check here for upcoming dates


Pine County Car Seat Referral Form - https://www.nightingalenotes.com/cf/bhnidexnhalax 

Need a car seat or have questions? Please contact:
Samantha Burch
320-372-2120 or at 320-216-4150
Samantha.burch@co.pine.mn.us




Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP)


The Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) is just as it sounds, a statewide partnership, that supports community-driven solutions to expand opportunities for active living, healthy eating,  commercial tobacco-free living and increased well-being.  SHIP aims to help all people in Minnesota prevent chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.


The Origin of SHIP
In 2008, Minnesota lawmakers recognized that controlling health care costs would require more than just changes in medical care - additional investments in prevention were needed. With bipartisan support in the legislature, Minnesota passed a groundbreaking health reform law. A key component of that reform was to create the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP), which invests in preventing chronic diseases before they start.

Your local SHIP collaborative
Pine County is a part of one of many SHIP collaboratives across the state of Minnesota.  Pine County, along with Kanabec, Isanti and Mille Lacs counties, make up the local SHIP collaborative known as Partners in Healthy Living.  Each county has a full time SHIP Coordinator who specializes in working with communities, schools, workplaces or health care facilities in improving the health and well-being of its staff and residents.

How SHIP works
Thanks to SHIP, Minnesota communities are:

  • Increasing access to fresh, local fruits and vegetables at farmers markets, local corner stores, emergency food programs, mobile markets and other food retailers
  • Serving healthier foods and increasing access to physical activity opportunities at schools
  • Making biking and walking easier in Minnesota towns and cities
  • Taking steps to make multi-unit housing sites smoke free
  • Working with small- and mid-sized employers to improve workers’ health and productivity
  • Working with health care sites to strengthen connections to community to ensure that patients are referred to evidence-based programs in their area
  • Supporting new moms so it’s easier for them to breastfeed after they return to work or school and more.
Are you interested in learning more about SHIP or connecting with you local SHIP Coordinator?


Do you have questions? Please contact:
Hailey Freedlund
hailey.freedlund@co.pine.mn.us

Or visit the Minnesota Department of Health’s Website




St. Croix River Education District (SCRED)

The St. Croix River Education District (SCRED) work collaboratively with Public Health Nurses to complete a health assessment to determine early intervention for growth and development.

If you are concerned about your infant/toddler meeting developmental milestones, please follow the link to the Help Me Grow website - this is where you can make a referral and find out more information about early childhood milestones.

Visit the SCRED website for additional information.