Hill County  Health Department

Home Visiting

Hill County Health Department has a grant through Montana Department of Health and Human Services to provide home visiting services to high-risk pregnant women, their infants, and infants identified at risk for special health care needs.  These services are part of Montana’s comprehensive efforts to improve the maternal child health status in the state as outlined in Section 50-19-311, Montana Code Annotated.

The objectives of the Home Visiting Service are:

1. Improve pregnancy outcomes in Hill County
2. Improve family functioning in Hill County
3. Monitor and improve the home environment of pregnant women and infants in Hill County, considering environmental, economic, psychosocial, and medical risks;
4. Decrease the incidence and impact of drug and alcohol use and abuse in pregnant women in Hill County.

High risk pregnant women are defined by the following criteria from the Administrative Rules of Montana 37.86.3402:

1. are age 17 or younger;
2. have medical factors which indicate the potential for a poor pregnancy outcome;
3. have someone in the person’s immediate environment abusing alcohol or drugs;
4. are currently in an abusive relationship;
5. are homeless; or
6. demonstrate an inability to obtain necessary resources and services and meet three of the following criteria;
   1. have a history of physical or sexual abuse;
   2. have no support system or involvement of a spouse or other supporting person;
   3. have 2 or more children under age 5;
   4. is not educated beyond the 12th grade level;
   5. have a physical disability or mental impairment;
   6. have had no prenatal care before or during the first 20 weeks of gestation;
   7. is a refugee
   8. is age 18 or 19; or
   9. have limited English proficiency.

High risk infants are defined by ARM 37.86.3902:

1. risk status is identified as those who are diagnosed with special health care needs or at risk for chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions;
2. require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children of the same age.

For referrals or more information, please contact the Maternal Child/Home Visiting Nurse, Danielle Golie, RN, CLC at 265-5481 ext 266.  You can also visit the CDC Maternal and Infant Health Page.

For more information, please visit the Montana State Public Health Home Visiting website.