Health Department

Family, Youth and Infant Health

  • Adolescent Pregnancy
    The Family Youth and Infant Division provide staff support and consultation to the Tennessee Adolescent Pregnancy and Prevention Program (TAPPP) Council. The adolescent pregnancy and prevention program is working to reduce teen pregnancy through a large variety of community awareness and educational programs targeting high risk teens. For more information, please call Lillian Maddox-Whitehead (615) 340-2261.
  • Central Referral System
    The Central Referral System coordinates referrals for home visiting intervention services for pregnant women, infants, and children up to 6 years of age. The family is linked to the most appropriate provider agency to ensure coordination and avoid duplication of services. For more information call (615) 880-2187.
  • Children's Special Services
    Children's Special Services (CSS) is a statewide program offered through the Tenn. Department of Health, that serves children birth to age 21 years, with chronic illnesses or disability needs. CSS provides financial assistance, speech, and hearing evaluations, and case management services related to a child's special health care needs. The program does have financial eligibility guidelines that are based on family size and 200% of the Health and Human Services Federal Poverty Guidelines set for each year. For more information, please call Mary Koob at (615) 340-5697 or visit the Children's Special Services web page.
  • CHOICES
    In the endeavor to address reproductive health disparities (infant mortality, sexually transmitted infection, and unintended pregnancy) among young adults, the Metro Public Health Department (MPHD) offers CHOICES- the community based campaign that aggressively targets 13-20 year old young adults for free Chlamydia and Gonorrhea screenings and confidential pregnancy testing. Bi-weekly screening services are offered via community clinics. Weekly education classes are offered at several Metro Parks and Recreation Community Centers. For more information contact D'Yuanna Allen, MPH (615) 340-2175.
  • Federal Healthy Start
    The Nashville Federal Healthy Start Initiative is a federally-funded project to address and improve birth outcomes and eliminate perinatal health disparities. It strives to change the health expectations of the community by partnering with the local community center, medical and service providers, local universities and other key colleagues to coordinate educational, support and medical services at the Hadley Park community center. The project is intended for people residing in the 37208 zip code. For more information contact Tina Lester (615) 340-2275.
  • FIMR - Fetal Infant Mortality Review
    The FIMR program is an infant mortality initiative that reviews fetal and infant deaths, and works at the community level to formulate programs, and influence policy that will lead to improving Davidson County birth outcomes. For more information contact Carolyn Riviere (615) 340-0552.
  • Healthy Beginnings
    The Healthy Beginnings program is a grant supported home visiting program designed to strengthen new (1st time) families by providing education, support, parenting skills, and resource assistance in order to prevent child abuse and neglect. Visits by nurses and outreach workers from the Health Department begin during pregnancy or after delivery of a first baby less than four months old. Nurses and outreach workers from the Health Department support first time parents by providing support and important information about child safety, child health, disease prevention, child development, and parenting skills. For more information contact Linda Shaw (615) 880-2159.
  • HUGS (Help Us Grow Successfully)
    The HUGS program (Help Us Grow Successfully) is a home visiting case management program for any pregnant women, or infants and children through the age of five years living in Davidson Co. Services are also provide to the families of participants. Women and/or children are usually at risk medically or socially. The program provides education, support, referral, and follow-up services. For more information contact Sandra Kaylor, RN (615) 862-7942.
  • Mobile Pediatric Assessment Clinic (MPAC)
    [MPAC Van]
    The Mobile Pediatric Assessment Clinic (MPAC) is a partnership between Metro Public Health Department and Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center. The mobile health partners provide EPSDT examinations to students in Metro elementary and middle schools regardless of health care coverage. For more information please call Donna Sumners, MCD, CCC-A (615) 340-5371 or e-mail us.
  • Oral Health Services for Children [Oral Health]

    We offer a variety of oral health services from school-based prevention in the form of dental sealants and education to a full service clinic for children and referral services for adult dental emergencies. These services are available to Davidson County residents at the Lentz Dental Clinic, located at 311 23rd Avenue North. Dental Services are provided by appointment. Please call us at (615) 340-5601. For more information about Oral Health Services call Dr. Michelle Bell, DDS at (615) 340-5601 or (615) 862-6727, or you can contact us by electronic mail service or visit the Oral Health Services for Children web page.

  • Preconception Health Peer Educators (PPE) Program
    The PPE program is a partnership with Meharry Medical College’s Student Health Ambassador Program. Students are trained and certified as a Preconception Health Peer Educators (PPE) and engage in core campus and community events geared towards improving the health of at risk young women and men. For more information contact Dr. Kimberlee Wyche Etheridge, (615) 340-5614.
  • Safe Sleep Program
    The Safe Sleep Program works to increase community awareness around the dangers of unsafe sleeping conditions for infants, which contribute to the County's high infant mortality statistics. Also the program helps to identify alternative sleeping arrangements for infants that are at risk. For more information contact Pamela Taylor (615) 340-2286.
  • STEP - Up to Health (SUPtH)
    The STEP-Up to Health Program works with middle school and high school age youth through the art form of traditional "Step Dancing" to increase physical fitness, with the ultimate goal of diabetes and obesity prevention. Step is a highly aerobic physical activity that engages youth in a fun and competitive manner. SUPtH provides daily and weekly education on health, wellness, nutrition, and other health factors and creates intervention strategies for the target population. For more information contact Warren Isenhour (615) 340-5694.
  • Youth Initiatives (Youth Advisory Board, Youth Public Health Institute):
    Collection of public health youth engagement programs that provides pipeline education, community-based service-learning, and grassroots advocacy through the utilization of public and private high school youth leaders to affect policies concerning adolescent health in Nashville.
  1. Youth Advisory Board – Bi-weekly 9th -12th grade volunteer board; student leaders design, plan, and evaluate public health research and service projects for area youth.
  2. Youth Public Health Institute – Public health service learning opportunity for MNPS Health Science Academy students at select schools.
For more information on Youth Initiatives contact D’Yuanna Allen, MPH, (615) 340-2175.