HELP ME GROW
Connecting Families to Community Services
A Program of the Connecticut Children's Trust Fund
" Children with
developmental problems are eluding early detection. Programs exist to help them,
but too often we fail to link these children with the resources they need. Help
Me Grow is that link."
Dr. Paul Dworkin
Physician-in-Chief
Connecticut Children's Medical Center
Help Me Grow is a program of the
Connecticut Children's Trust fund working in collaboration with: The United Way
of Connecticut/ Infoline, (the state's telephone information and referral
service), the Connecticut Birth to Three System (through the Department of
Mental Retardation) and the state's Department of Education Preschool Special
Education Program. Through this collaboration we have developed a statewide
network designed to help families and providers access appropriate services for
young children (birth to 5) who are at risk for developmental, health or
behavioral problems. The components of the program include: a statewide toll
free telephone number for accessing needed care (Child Development Infoline);
partnerships with community-based agencies throughout the state; and child
development community liaisons that serve as a conduit between the
community-based services and the telephone access point. Child development
community liaisons conduct regional Networking Breakfasts that bring together
community-based agencies to share information and brainstorm solutions to
challenging issues using case specific presentations.
The Help Me Grow training component is targeted at child health providers in
the State of Connecticut to support the practice of developmental surveillance.
Grand rounds presentations are delivered though hospital-based pediatric
departments and large pediatric clinics across the state. Help Me Grow trainers
visit community-based pediatric practices and present a Child Development
Resource kit that contains: materials on Help Me Grow, the administration guide
and protocols for the PEDS (Pediatric Evaluation of Developmental Status) and
the Denver II (developmental screening instrument). A referral to Help Me Grow
is appropriate when a provider needs to link the family to programs in the
community or has requests for further evaluation. Workshops on developmental
surveillance will also be presented to child care providers and parents.
In addition, the Ages and Stages Child Monitoring System is offered to any
family that requests participation. Questionnaires are sent out to parents every
few months to check their child's development. If there is a question about
development the parent is connected to the appropriate referral source.
The evaluation component includes a data collection system that identifies gaps
in services and barriers to obtaining appropriate services. In addition detailed
data is being collected on the time it takes to find an appropriate service,
follow up calls and hard to reach families. This information is being generated
to help legislators understand the need for systems change issues involving
prevention and the need for supporting services and resources for young
children.
In summary, Help Me Grow is a unique program that assists families and
providers in identifying developmental concerns, finding appropriate resources
and helping families connect with programs and services. The training of child
health, child care providers and parents on developmental surveillance is a
critical component of Help Me Grow. Training and evaluation of the program are
the keys to bringing about substantive systems change.
To make a referral to Help Me Grow, call the Child Development Infoline at
1-800-505-7000.
|
