Children and Young Families

Car Seat Safety and Information

Wadena County Public Health works with Minnesota health care programs, U-Care and Blue Plus, to provide car seats and car seat education to families in our community. If you are pregnant and/or have a child that is 8 years of age or younger, please call Wadena County Public Health at 218-631-7629 to see if you are eligible for this great benefit! 

Child and Teen Check-ups (C&TC)

Early Childhood Screenings (ECS)

Wadena County Public Health completes all early childhood screenings for those students who live in Wadena County. 
If you live outside of Wadena County and outside of a Wadena County school district (Sebeka, Menahga, Verndale, Wadena-Deer Creek), please contact the school districts below to schedule your early childhood screening; 

  1. Park Rapids – Community Education schedules/registers (218) 237-6600
  2. Staples Motley – Lisa Wick (218) 631-3505 or lwick@fed.k12.mn.us
  3. Bertha-Hewitt – Lisa Wick (218) 629-6082 or lwick@fed.k12.mn.us 
  4. New York Mills – Deb Baune (218) 385-2553 / Kendra (218) 385-2553
  • CDC Milestone Tracker
  •  Healthychildren.org: Health tips and guidance through the "Ages & Stages" all the way from prenatal up to young adult.
  •  Help Me Connect : A navigator connecting pregnant individuals and families with young children (birth – 8 years old) with services in their local communities that empower families to be healthy and safe. 


Help Me Connect


Family Health/Family Planning

Family Home Visiting

Immunizations and Vaccinations

Newborn Health and Postnatal / Prenatal Maternal Health  

Oral Health

  • At Wadena County Public Health, dental varnishing is available to young children that are on medical assistance. Dental varnishing (fluoride varnish) is a safe, protective coating that is painted on the teeth to help prevent or stop cavities that have already started. 
  • For more information about dental varnishing, visit: Fluoride Varnish in the Child and Teen Checkups (C&TC) Setting or call Wadena County Public Health at 218-631-7629.

Poison Control Center 

Postpartum Depression Resources

Depression during or after pregnancy is common. Good news is it is treatable and you do not have to suffer.  Learn more at this website included below, and contact your home-visit nurse or medical provider.

Women, Infant, and Children Nutrition Program (WIC)