Dear Early Care and Education Provider,

Thank you for your ongoing support in fostering the development of the children and families you serve. 

You should have recently received a package containing important information regarding Help Me Grow Early Intervention services. This included a brochure, tips for discussing developmental concerns with parents, a tip card on engaging families about Early Intervention, flyers addressing specific developmental delays, a developmental wheel, and details about the new ASQ developmental screening program using the Sparkler platform.

Our highly trained regional outreach team would love the opportunity to further discuss with you the details of our services and how they can help you in your work. They are available to meet with you, your staff, and/or families you serve to explore effective ways to connect families with local, evidence-based Help Me Grow services available within your county.

Thank you for your time. We look forward to hearing from you and hope to collaborate further in supporting the families you serve.

Sincerely,

Rachael Bonacker

Statewide Outreach Coordinator

rbonacker@brightbeginningskids.org

(216) 970-8670

Developmental screenings surge with Sparkler

Ohioans have enthusiastically embraced the Sparkler app since it launched in September 2024. The app offers an easy way for parents and caregivers to screen children birth through five years old using the ASQ. Early screening helps parents know if their child is meeting important developmental milestones.

Help Me Grow previously offered the ASQ at its website beginning in May 2022. Between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023 (SFY23), Help Me Grow processed a total of 520 screenings. An additional 884 screenings were completed in SFY24. Since the launch of Sparkler through December 15th, Help Me Grow has processed 3,850 screenings--that's a 174% increase over the two prior years combined! (see illustration)

What does it mean to process a screening?

When a parent completes the screening and submits it via the Sparkler app, a Help Me Grow developmental screening specialist is notified and reviews the results. Based on these findings, a child falls in one of three categories: on track, monitor, or refer for supportive services. Approximately 36% of the 3,850 screenings indicated the child was on track in all domains.

The screening specialists consider what supportive resources to recommend or whether to refer the child for services. Once they have gathered all the information they need to share with the family, they contact them to go over the results.

The screening specialists have been trained specifically for these conversations. They listen to the family and ask if they may have additional needs (such as food, clothing, mental health supports, etc.) not revealed by the screening.

They use the Help Me Grow Community Resource Directory to connect families with local resources. Families and caregivers are always free to accept or decline recommendations and/or referrals.

Providers who become Help Me Grow program partners for the Sparkler platform get a unique access code families use to connect to the provider, allowing the provider to see screening results and complete a screening for children in their care. The goal is to improve communication and collaboration, ensuring the best possible support for each child.

You can learn more about becoming a program partner at helpmegrow.org/asqproviders. 

Betsy Gizzo

Betsy Gizzo has been providing ASQ results from Help Me Grow to families since the service began in May 2022.

Betsy has a degree in family and individual studies and has worked at Bright Beginnings for over 15 years in multiple capacities, including as an Early Intervention service coordinator.

Taylor Benford

Taylor Benford joined Bright Beginnings in August 2024. Taylor has a degree in English and a passion for reading and education.

Previously, Taylor taught toddlers in an early childhood education program. That experience combined with a love for reading, education, and child development allows them to provide young learners and their families with the tools they need to thrive.

Jasmyn Young

Jasmyn Young joined Bright Beginnings in November 2024. She has worked in the early education field for four years.

Jasmyn is a graduate of Cleveland State University. She enjoys using her love for literacy and social skills to connect families with early care and educational resources.

Have A Question About Using Sparkler?

Project coordinator Julie Babcock from Bright Beginnings continues to offer opportunities to connect. Every Wednesday at 1:30pm, she hosts open office hours.

Drop in to ask a question, hear implementation ideas from other professionals, or share your ASQ success story. These will be ongoing as people begin to learn and use Sparkler.

Register for a Wednesday session via Zoom at this link.

You can easily refer a child to Help Me Grow for ASQ and other services, including Home Visiting, Early Intervention, and WIC.

Our recently updated web referral form (see photo) is simple and secure. Find it at our web site and choose the service (one or more) for which you'd like to refer:

• ASQ Online
• Early Intervention
• Family Connects Ohio (where available)
• Home Visiting
• WIC



Once we receive the referral, Help Me Grow will be in touch to connect the family to the service and provider who can meet their needs.

Learn and Earn a CEU

You can earn one Ohio Approved hour by watching this training that describes Home Visiting and Early Intervention programs, how to refer, and why it's important to do so. To access the training:



1.     Go to the website:

https://www.train.org/odh/welcome

2.     Create an account: Click on the "Create Account" button. Follow the prompts to set up your username and password.

3.     Email Verification: After completing the registration, you will receive an email asking you to verify your email address. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your account.

4.     Search for the course: Once your account is set up, use the search bar to find course 1100686, titled Early Childhood Health: Making Referrals in Early Childhood Settings.

**Note: To receive credit in the Ohio Professional Registry, you must also:**

• Register through OCCRRA. 

• Complete all components (pre-assessment, webinar, post-assessment, evaluation)



• Once you've completed the course, the credit will be verified through OCCRRA. It will appear in your Ohio Professional Registry account within 14 business days of completion.

Need a Resource?

As mentioned previously, Help Me Grow has a robust, regularly updated, online directory full of resources for families in the prenatal stage or who have children under six-years-old. Help Me Grow's Community Resource Directory offers easy search options, too.

From WIC locations to early childhood mental health providers, the directory provides resources available in all 88 Ohio counties.

Search results can be shared easily via email or links can be copied to put in a text message. Organizations can add their info if they don't see it listed, and providers can submit changes if information needs to be updated.

Be sure to check out the Community Resource Directory page and other services offered through Help Me Grow at helpmegrow.org!

Bright Beginnings offers tips, facts, stories, even play ideas at its Instagram @brightbeginningshmg. Follow us today!

Bright Beginnings is the state-contracted provider of

Help Me Grow Central Intake & Referral.

It is also a leader in providing services

to help young children grow, learn,

and develop to their fullest potential.