Orange County NC Website
42 <br /> BASIC PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE <br /> An adequate safety net for children and families exists when... <br /> • families can afford basic physical and mental health care for all members,especially children. <br /> • all children and families have basic physical and mental health care that includes preventive, <br /> general,and specialty care. <br /> • physical and mental health care is readily available and accessible closeby. <br /> • physical and mental health care is of good quality. <br /> Key Components <br /> ► Dental care <br /> ► Preventive care <br /> ► Ongoing, routine, and emergency health care <br /> ► Life-long care <br /> ► Speciality and long-term care <br /> ► Mental Health <br /> ► Case management <br /> Essential Services <br /> ✓ Basic Health Care. Age-appropriate, affordable, and accessible health care needs to be <br /> available for all children and families in the county. Health insurance or other forms of <br /> guaranteeing access to health care must be available for all children and families. <br /> ✓ Prenatal Care and Maternity Care. Prenatal care and maternity care coordination are <br /> essential services to ensure that children get off to a healthy start, and to prevent infant <br /> morbidity and mortality. Well-baby care should be part of this continuum of services. <br /> ✓ Mental Health professionals. Mental health professionals need to be available to children <br /> and families in the schools and other community settings. Extended hours are essential for <br /> working families. <br /> ✓ Emergency Health Care Services. Emergency health care services must be maintained for <br /> children and families. <br /> ✓ Dental Care. Affordable dental care is essential for children. <br /> ✓ Wellness Health Checks. Prevention services, such as wellness health checks (includes <br /> developmental,hearing,and vision screenings)for children ages 0-21 are important to <br /> prevent unnecessary illness and disease. <br /> ✓ Nutrition and Feeding programs. Adequate nutrition is essential to a child's and families <br /> health. A variety of nutrition and feeding programs should be in*place in child care,schools, <br /> and other community settings. <br /> ✓ Child Spacing and Family Planning. Children are wanted and healthier when there is <br /> adequate child spacing and family planning services available. <br /> ✓ Immunizations. Childhood immunizations are critical to preventing unnecessary childhood <br /> diseases. Affordable vaccines and outreach efforts need to be part of this effort. <br /> ✓ Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment. Substance abuses, including tobacco and <br /> alcohol,directly cause or contribute to many of the problems children and families experience. <br /> Substance abuse prevention and treatment services need to be expanded <br />