A new year, and more families to serve!
The challenges families faced in 2020 didn’t end when the new year began, and crucial early childhood supports like Early Intervention and Home Visiting are more important than ever.

Supporting Ohio’s families and young children starts with committed professionals like you, who refer families to the Help Me Grow system of supports.

If you are concerned about a child’s development, act early and refer the child to Early Intervention.

If you know a family that is expecting a new baby and could use extra support, refer the family to Home Visiting.
The impact on families and children...
Early Intervention
Whether through in-home visits or virtual visits, Emily's son Rhett has made amazing progress since he began receiving Early Intervention services in their Pike County home.

Right after his second birthday he wasn't speaking. So I brought up our concerns with our pediatrician and she referred us to Early Intervention and we had evaluations done. We found out a lot about him that I hadn't thought of previously. It's unreal the the amount of help and services that we received.

-Rhett's family in Pike County

Watch Rhett's full story below.
Home Visiting
One of our prenatal moms was unemployed and in need of housing.

While being enrolled in the Home Visiting program, mom chose to keep her baby. With her home visitor, she was able to discuss child development, breastfeeding, and childcare. Her home visitor also referred her to the Moms Quit for Two smoking cessation program and connected her to community resources to obtain essential items for her and her baby.

Fast forward to a year after enrollment, mom is still active in the Home Visiting program, employed, obtained her GED, has a reliable vehicle, plans on breastfeeding until the child turns one, and has been successful in her smoking cessation.

- Home Visiting provider in Cuyahoga County
The importance of referrals...
Help Me Grow Central Intake and Referral is a single point of entry where every door is the right door to access Home Visiting and Early Intervention services. With so many programs and services across Ohio's 88 counties, Central Intake and Referral experts are connected with more than 140 Home Visiting and Early Intervention providers. They know the different eligibility requirements for these programs and can explain these services to families.
The pandemic has impacted the number of pregnant women and families with young children being seen by medical professionals and social service agencies. This has led to fewer referrals for families in need of services that can impact the trajectory of a child's life.

Your continued partnership with Help Me Grow connects Ohio families to services and resources that help children have the best start in life.

Help make a difference in the lives of those you see each day...
Happy New Year! Here’s to a brighter 2021!
-Help Me Grow Central Intake and Referral
If you have any questions regarding the information in this email,
contact us at 1-800-755-GROW or [email protected].