For Parents and Caregivers
Buena Vista and Salida Public Libraries provide parenting books, DVDs, pamphlets, and publications. They also offer story time and summer reading programs for children. In Buena Vista call 719-395-8417. In Salida call 719-539-4826.
Chaffee County Colorado State University Extension Office – Family and Consumer Science information including nutrition and food preparation. Contact 719-539-6447 or karin.niedfeldt@colostate.edu.
Chaffee County Early Childhood Council – Information, workshops, and referrals for parenting as well as healthy growth and development of young children, prenatal to eight years old. Contact www.ccecc.org or call 719-530-5374.
Chaffee County Public Health offers:
- free immunizations for children and vaccines for adults
- vision/hearing screening
- care coordination for children with special health care needs
- pregnancy tests
- assistance with enrollment for children and pregnant women in the Medicaid State Insurance Program
- Child Health Plan (CHP+) and Presumptive Eligibility (PE) screening.
- helpful brochures and materials are available at their offices
Chaffee County Public Health Office 448 East First Street, Suite 137 – Salida 719-539-4510. Chaffee County Public Health
For Buena Vista clinic information, please call the number above for times and locations.
Chaffee County WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) provides personalized nutrition and breastfeeding education, health referrals, and nutritious foods such as milk, cheese, cereal, and dried beans for pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5 who qualify. Call 719-539-7413 for more information.
Child Find (a part of Buena Vista and Salida School Districts)
Parents can request free confidential screenings for their infants and young children to identify needs associated with vision, hearing, reaching developmental milestones, and social and emotional health. In Buena Vista contact 719-395-7029. In Salida contact 719-530-5243.
CLASP’s - Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care project links research to policy ideas and examples that support the healthy growth and development of infants and toddlers in child care settings. Continuity of Care.
Colorado Children’s Campaign – The Colorado Children’s Campaign works to ensure every Colorado child has the support to grow up healthy and access to high quality health care services. Child Health link.
Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) offers free preschool services for families that qualify. There are four local preschools that participate in CPP. In Buena Vista, call 719-395-7209. In Salida, contact Chaffee County Montessori School at 719-539-4887, Salida Early Childhood Center at 719-539-1184, or Strawberry Door Center for Early Learning at 719-539-2154.
La Leche League (LLL)
The La Leche League International web site offers question and answer pages, mother-to-mother forums, articles on breastfeeding, resources and on-line help forms. www.llli.org.
LLL is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to offer encouragement, information, and support to those women who wish to breastfeed their babies. This is done primarily by phone and monthly meetings. Attending LLL meetings can help you learn from other nursing mothers about breastfeeding. Local group leaders are volunteers who have nursed their own babies and have learned to help other mothers with breastfeeding questions and problems.
La Leche League of Salida meets the second Monday of each month, from 10:00 – 11:30 AM in the community room at the Salida Café (300 W Sackett Ave, Salida). Expectant women and moms with babies are welcome. All meetings are free and open to the public.
Local La Leche League Leaders:
Megan Juba – 719-539-9242, meganjuba@yahoo.com
Wendy McKenna – 719-539-4394, wendytrafford@msn.com
Lorraine Redmond – 719-539-3087, rainredmond05@hotmail.com
Licensed Child Care Providers in Chaffee County – A list of local providers is available at the Salida and Buena Vista Public Libraries. This information is also available on Looking for child care? or call 719-530-5374 for more information.
The Nurse-Family Partnership
First-time moms, who are income-eligible, receive regular home visits from a registered nurse. These visits occur before birth until the baby is age two and provide guidance about healthy pregnancy, responsible and competent care of their child, and how to become more economically self-sufficient.
Contact Judy Wagner, RN, MA, LPC
448 E. 1st Street, Suite 137
Salida, CO 81201
221-9396 cell
530-2568 office
PBS Whole Child Telecourse – The Whole Child site extends the information presented in the 13-part child development video series and telecourse of the same name.
- How can I help my children feel good about themselves?
- How can I tell if a child has special needs?
- Development from birth through age five
- The abc’s of child development
- We’ve got answers!
The telecourse was based on the popular textbook, The Whole Child, by Joanne Hendrick, Ph.D.
Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains provides affordable and confidential reproductive services for women and men of all ages. Services include:
- all birth control methods and contraception
- pregnancy testing with counseling and referrals
- annual exams and screening for breast and cervical cancer
- HPV vaccinations
- sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment
- HIV testing and treatment
- treatment of vaginal infections
- mammogram referrals
- screening for high blood pressure, cholesterol, and other health conditions
Located in Salida at 233 East 2nd Street. Call 719-539-7291 to make an appointment.
Pregnancy Centers provide information and support during pregnancy, including pregnancy tests, health referrals, parenting classes, and maternity and baby items. www.uavpregnancycenters.com. In Buena Vista call 719-395-6703. In Salida call 719-539-7436.
Additional local services – Chaffee County Public Health publishes a comprehensive list of local services including housing, health care, food pantries, and assistance programs for low-income families. Find the Chaffee County Public Health local services resource here, or it can be obtained at Salida or Buena Vista Public Libraries or by calling the Public Health offices in Buena Vista 719-395-0344 and in Salida 719-539-4510.
The Chaffee County Health and Human Services departments work together to advocate and provide for the health and wellness of our citizens. We provide responsive programs for the entire community, young and old.
www.earlychildhoodcolorado.org – Early childhood resources and services listed by county. Helpful tips on health, nutrition, and lifestyle.
www.parents.com – Expert advice on pregnancy, your life, and family time from the editors of Parenting magazine. Free newsletters available on the website.
www.touchpoints.org – Empowers parents to discover their effectiveness as parents. Based on Dr. T.B. Brazelton’s pioneering infant research and more than 60 years of listening to parents and children. The website is dedicated to strengthening the systems of care that serve young children and their families.
www.zerotothree.org – Science-based information and tools designed to help parents and caregivers nurture their young children’s development. Go to the Parent’s section of the website.
www.familydoctor.org – Health information for the whole family. See the Parent and Kids section of the website for helpful information on ear aches, fever, diaper rash, vomiting & diarrhea, constipation, bed-wetting, and toilet training.
