VNA provides public health nurse and supportive services to enhance health and the quality of life for women, infants, children and their families who are living in vulnerable situations. The services are provided in the traditional home setting, in family and children’s homeless shelters, transitional housing facilities, women’s correctional facilities, and through childbirth education classes in both English and Spanish, immigrant women’s groups for Sudanese, Somali/Bantu and others, and in one-to-one sessions with a social worker. United Way funding represents 20% of the total budget, and Medicaid, federal and state grants, donor, foundation and VNA funding provides the remainder.

• Newborn/Postpartum Care
• Project WIN
• Childbirth Education Classes
• Lactation/Breastfeeding Services
• Immigrant/Refugee Outreach
• Correctional Outreach
• School Health Services

Newborn/Postpartum Care

The VNA understands that having a new baby can be overwhelming, which is why we offer newborn and postpartum care assistance for families with newborns. This program is designed to provide new moms and their families with the latest information on newborn care, parenting skills and breastfeeding techniques in the privacy of their own homes. The newborn and postpartum care service is offered to all members of the community.

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Project WIN

Welcoming Infants into Neighborhoods, or Project WIN, is a program designed to provide home visits to families who are expecting or have a baby 12 months of age or younger. The home visits, which are made by a registered nurse, focus on providing health education and support to young families - assisting them with identifying needs and accessing health care, education and social service resources. Project WIN is a free community service.

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Childbirth Education Classes

The VNA offers free childbirth education classes for expectant mothers to help prepare them for both pregnancy and childbirth. The classes take a healthy approach and cover nutrition, exercise, use of medications during pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease (STD) education, coping techniques, physical and emotional changes and the warning signs of serious pregnancy concerns such as pre-term labor and pregnancy-induced hypertension. The program also includes home visits after birth with instruction on breastfeeding, infant care and parenting skills. The VNA provides classes in both English and Spanish. Participation in the program is at no cost to expecting mothers. Women are encouraged to sign up early due to high demand.

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Lactation/Breastfeeding Services

The VNA Lactation program is the only breastfeeding instruction service in the community that allows clients to learn in the privacy of their own homes. Certified lactation specialists provide support and education to new mothers and aim to involve other family members in the process. Instruction is given based on the latest research in breastfeeding.

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Immigrant/Refugee Outreach

This program is designed to reach high-risk mothers and children from culturally diverse backgrounds. Assistance is provided with housing, food, health care referral and referral to additional community services.

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Correctional Outreach

The VNA Correctional Outreach program works with women in prison and those recently released to help them re-establish their place in society. VNA nurses focus on creating a healthy way of life for these women and their families with special emphasis on prenatal education, parenting skills and protecting the well-being of their children. VNA nurses also function as advocates and provide referrals to additional community resources.

The Correctional Outreach program is provided in cooperation with the Women’s Correctional Center in York, Nebraska, the Douglas County Correctional Center and Youth Centers at Geneva and Douglas County. The program is provided at no cost.

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School Health Services

The VNA offers school health services to address health issues that affect our area's children. Currently more than 15,000 students receive health care services from VNA school nurses that include health evaluations and screenings, immunization reporting, communicable disease control, preventive and wellness programs, referrals for primary care and education programs. The VNA school nurses currently serve in 45 schools. The School Health Services program is funded through contracts with schools.

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