Premature Infant Follow Up Support

A premature infant is a baby born before 37 completed weeks of gestation (more than 3 weeks before the "due date"). A premature infant's organs are not fully developed. The infant needs special care in a nursery until the organs have developed enough to keep the baby alive without medical support. This may take weeks to months. A parent of a premature infant may feel scared, vulnerable and overwhelmed.

Children's Special Health

Children's Special Health (CSH) is a program for Wyoming children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) who require something beyond routine and basic care. Wyoming's CSH program is funded through Title V of the Social Security Act and state matching funds in order to do the following:

• Build community capacity via training, technical assistance, and financing
• Facilitate the development of community-based systems of services
• Provide and promote family-centered, community-based, coordinated care for children and youth with special health care needs
• Provide direct healthcare services to children and families as a way to fill gaps in services
• Support core public health functions such as resource development, capacity building, public information, technical assistance to communities, provider training, and gathering and analyzing data

Care Coordination

Carbon County Public Health is available for Premature Infant Follow Up and Support. A specially trained Registered Nurse is available to provide care coordination for the family as they are coping and adjusting their lives through this trialing time. The nurse recognizes the family as the constant in their child's life and works on all levels to promote a consistent and supportive relationship. The nurse is responsible for the following:

• Answer specific questions
• Facilitate the family to family support and networking
• Refer them to services
• Set up follow up appointments
• Weigh and assess the infant