Oak Orchard offers HealthySteps program for young families in Albion
Press Release, Oak Orchard Health
Dr. Karen Mawn
For families in Orleans County, the early years of raising a child are full of joy—but they can also be filled with questions, stress, and uncertainty. That’s why Oak Orchard Health (OOH) in Albion is offering extra support to local families through a national program called HealthySteps—and it’s already making a big difference.
Local Help for Families with Young Children
HealthySteps began a year ago and is a free program for families with children from birth to age five. To date, we have helped 142 families in Albion. Every child under age three that is seen at Oak Orchard is automatically enrolled. The program adds an important member to the care team: a Healthy Steps Specialist who works closely with your pediatric provider to support the entire family.
“Our goal is to support the whole family—not just the child,” said Dr. Karen Mawn, a pediatrician at Oak Orchard in Albion and the program’s physician champion. “Sometimes that means helping with a referral, and sometimes it’s just listening and reassuring a new parent that they’re doing a great job.”
This nationally recognized program was made possible by a three-year grant, and Albion is the only OOH site currently offering it. Our Warsaw office has already been accepted in the program—we are working on implementation.
What Does HealthySteps Offer?
The program provides extra support at your child’s medical visits, as well as follow-up and care coordination. The HealthySteps Specialist can:
- Talk through parenting questions and challenges
- Address anxiety, stress, postpartum depression, or family well-being
- Screen for child developmental delays and autism
- Help connect families to WIC, food programs, and housing services
- Offer guidance on speech delays, sleep struggles, and child behavior
- Support mothers in recovery or those facing substance use challenges
Families are matched with the right level of support based on their needs. Some may have check-ins every few visits, while others receive help at every well-child appointment.
More Than Just Medical Care
What makes HealthySteps stand out is its focus on the whole family. The HealthySteps Specialist doesn’t just talk to moms, they also talk with grandparents, foster parents, and other caregivers. All are included. If your family is raising a child under five, the HealthySteps Specialist is here for you, too.
Unlike typical pediatric visits, which are often limited by time, the Care Specialist is available to follow up, offer emotional support, and guide you to services you may not have known were available.
“It’s like having an extra teammate who’s focused on your child’s development—and your family’s well-being,” Dr. Mawn added.
A Community-Based Solution
HealthySteps also plays a key role in addressing critical social drivers of health—the non-medical issues that affect families, like food insecurity, housing instability, and access to childcare. With direct links to local support programs, the HealthySteps Specialist can help families get what they need to stay safe, healthy, and stable.
How to Get Started
If your baby or young child receives care at Oak Orchard Health in Albion, you’re already part of the HealthySteps program. Ask your pediatric provider about meeting the Specialist and learning more about the resources available to you.
To learn more, call Oak Orchard Health in Albion at (585) 589-5613 or find out more during your child’s next appointment.
Your family’s well-being is our priority—every step of the way.
