Fort Morgan, CO. 02/20/13.  Morgan Community College’s (MCC) Nursing program partnered again with community organizations to offer two Healthy Child Clinics to families in the Morgan community. The purpose of the event was to offer free health screenings to families with children aged six months to five years. Contributors assisted 31 children on February 12 and 13, screening their hearing, eyesight, gave dental exams, height, weight, and immunization checks, as well as play based developmental assessments. Parents were given background information on the physical, mental, and language development of their children, plus received information on parenting issues and safety. “We want to inform parents so that they can make good decisions,” stated BJ James with Centennial BOCES.

Clinic coordinator, Michelle Pemberton from North Eastern Colorado Health Department, believes “the earlier problems are identified, the earlier interventions can be started and the better the outcome.” Elaine Moncibais from Salud Dental couldn’t agree more, “prevention is the most important part.” She added that “screenings as early as 6 months up to three years can help familiarize little ones to the process, so their first encounter isn’t so scary.”

“This is a great experience for our students, they learn what is available in our own community and practice vital signs and interaction with children,” says Carol Johnson, MCC nursing instructor. MCC nursing students were assigned an individual child during the process, helping to ease young fears while going through each station but to also gaining hands-on experience.

Agencies assisting with the clinic were Baby Bear Hugs, Centennial Board of Cooperative Educational Services, Centennial Mental Health, Colorado Plains Medical Center Rehab, Lutheran Family Services, Morgan Community College, North Eastern Colorado Health Department, RE 3 School District, and Salud Dental.

For more information about the clinics, contact Michelle Pemberton at (970) 522-3741 x1239 or email michellep@nchd.org. To find out how to enroll in the Nursing program or health care related degrees, visit www.MorganCC.edu or call MCC Advisor Gwen Steffen at (970) 542-3224.