Ensuring the optimal growth and development of children in our community is an important priority of the Appalachian District Health Department. We offer many programs and services to help accomplish the goal of having happy, healthy children.
Well Child Care
Good health care helps create a good foundation for growth and development. All children need to have regular well child check-ups, regardless of age. Don’t take good health for granted. Sometimes a child who appears healthy has a hidden medical problem. Well child care is important so problems can be found early.
Postpartum Newborn Home Visits
Well Child Checkups include the following:
- Head to toe physical examination
- Developmental screening
- Vision and Hearing screening
- Blood pressure check
- Anemia and lead screening, as needed
- Urinalysis, as needed
- Immunizations
- Health education
- Dental Varnish with education is offered for children ages 6 months to 6 years
We also perform sports physicals. All North Carolina schools require a sports physical be completed before a child participates in any school sporting activity.
Well Child Checkup Schedule
Your child’s health care provider will let you know how often your child should come for well child checkups. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children be seen at the following ages:
From birth until age one:
- Newborn, 3-5 days, 1 Month, 2 Months, 4 Months, 6 Months, 9 Months, & 12 Months
Age one through age three:
- 15 Months, 18 Months, 24 Months, 30 Months, 3 Years
Children and adolescents from 4 to 21 years old need a well child checkup each year.
For more information on the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, visit their website by clicking here.
You can also visit the Bright Futures website for more information by clicking here.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Supplemental Food Program
The WIC Program provides quality nutrition services for women, infants and children through nutrition counseling, healthy foods, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare. To learn more about WIC and find out if you may be eligible, please contact your county health department directly or click here.
Health Choice
North Carolina Health Choice (NCHC) for Children is a free or reduced price comprehensive health care program for children. If your family makes too much money to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford rising health insurance premiums, your child may qualify for NCHC. NC Health Choice can pay for many services. To find out if your child might qualify or for more details, visit the NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance website or call the NC Family Health Resource Line at 1-800-367-2229.
Child Safety
Free car seat safety checks are held every 3rd Friday at Family Central in Ashe County, starting at 3:00 pm. For more information please call 336-977-2394.
To find out how you can recognize, respond and prevent child abuse and neglect, please click here.
Smart Start
Smart Start is a state and local partnership that was created in 1993 as an innovative solution to a problem: Children were coming to school unprepared to learn. Smart Start strives to improve outcomes for children by offering family-focused programs that improve parenting, promote parental involvement and impact the environment in which parenting takes place. Smart Start also strives to improve young children’s access to healthcare by working with doctors, health departments, families, and communities to improve the healthcare systems that serve children. Independent, private organizations work in all 100 North Carolina counties through The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc., and 77 Local Partnerships.
For more information about Smart Start and the programs offered please click one of the links below:
Ashe County Partnership for Children
Alleghany Partnership for Children
The Children’s Council of Watauga County