Bonnie Boney, an early-childhood care manager with the Onslow County Health Department, said the department operates a care management program for children from birth to age 5 focused on improving health outcomes through coordinated care.

Boney said care managers work with families to identify needs and barriers, link them with community partners (WIC, 1 Place, early childhood programs), coordinate with medical providers, assist with well-care screenings, nutrition and safe-sleep guidance, and connect children with services for special health care needs or NICU follow-up. The program also supports foster families and tailors interventions to family goals.

Boney said anyone — parents, neighbors, medical homes or community partners — can refer a family to the program; she provided a contact number, (910) 989-3908. She described long-term satisfaction from families: care managers have served for many years and families often return to express gratitude and show children who were helped by the program now grown.

Ending: The early-childhood care management team coordinates service plans and community referrals for Onslow County families with children 0'5 and invites referrals from anyone in the community.