Help Me Grow

Key Facts:

There were 155,721 births in Ohio (2000 Vital Statistics information.)
Of those:

17,212 babies were born to mothers who did not receive prenatal care until after the first trimester
3,128 babies were born to mothers who received no prenatal care
12,334 babies were born weighing less than 5.5 pound and faced higher risk of death or serious illness
1,169 babies died before their first birthday
23 percent of two year olds had not completed immunizations for measles, mumps, rubella, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, haemophilus, influenza, hepatitis B.

Scientific evidence suggests strongly that a child's success is significantly determined by the quality of nurturing in the first three years of life.

The brain develops more rapidly prior to age one than at any other point in a person's life. Studies of children raised in low quality environments show that they have cognitive deficits of substantial magnitude by 18 months of age.

With a nurturing environment early in life, children attain higher IQ scores, adjust more easily to school, have better cognitive and language development, are less likely to repeat a grade and are assigned to special education programs less frequently. They are also more likely to be emotionally competent and behaviorally well-adjusted.

The goal of the Help Me Grow program is to assure that newborns, infants and toddlers across Ohio have the best possible start in life. Funding is provided that supports local efforts to:

Provide early identification of children with developmental delays;
Provide up-to-date information on child health, development;
Provide voluntary home visits to assess the health and safety of newborns and to help new parents by providing information on child development, safety, and community resources;
Provide screenings for health, hearing, vision and development;
Provide parents with information about their child's social and emotional development that lays the foundation for later school success;
Provide literacy training for parents and support them as full partners in their child's education;
Assure that parents have information on the importance of early childhood immunizations and routine pediatric health care.

Proposed Annual Funding for Help Me Grow

$15 million in Federal Funds for Early Intervention of Children with Disabilities
$10 million in State funds
$38 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds.

Newborn Home Visits

Help Me Grow provides home visits by a registered nurse to new parents. The home visit offers the earliest opportunity to provide families with the most recent information on child development. During a newborn home visit, a nurse does physical assessment of the newborn and mother. Child development, health and safety, and community resource information is shared with the family.

In state fiscal year 2000, 30,821 home visits were made. Home visiting nurses referred families to WIC, ongoing Help Me Grow services for children with or at risk of delays or disabilities and the Children's Health Insurance Program, and assisted families in identifying a primary health care provider.

Help Me Grow in Delaware County
A Help Me Grow nurse made a newborn home visit to a teen-age mother and her 2-pound baby. During the visit, the mother asked about activities she could do with her newborn to help him grow and develop properly. Mom worked with her child, who today is developing normally and has reached a healthy weight.

Children At Risk

Help Me Grow provides direct services to infants and toddlers (birth to age 3) who are extremely vulnerable because family or health circumstances which place them at risk for future developmental difficulties, abuse or neglect. Help Me Grow ensures children receive proper medical care, encourages parents to utilize community resources and services, and familiarizes resources and support to help their disadvantaged child grow normally and enter school ready to learn.

In state fiscal year 2000, 19,464 infants and toddlers were served.

Help Me Grow in Franklin County
A young Somalia mother who spoke little English and lacked parenting skills was enrolled in the Help Me Grow program to learn how to successfully raise a child in America. A Help Me Grow worker helped Mom understand what she should expect for her child's development. The worker also made arrangements to include her in community activities to lessen her sense of isolation. Today, this mother has a driver's license and a part-time job, while her child is fully vaccinated against disease and is developing normally.
Help Me Grow in Geauga County
A homeless woman was five months pregnant and needed assistance. She was referred to Help Me Grow, where counselors learned she was an unemployed high school dropout without transportation. After participating in Help Me Grow, this mother earned her General Equivalency Diploma (GED). Today, she is making college plans and raising a happy, healthy infant. She is also attending a parent-child interaction group which helps her and other parents develop stronger literacy and parenting skills.

Children With Disabilities

Help Me Grow uses experts who work together to identify each infant and toddler with developmental delays or disabilities and their families. The program ensures children have a pediatric or primary care doctor and receives medical care and therapies, encourages parents to utilize community resources and services, and assists them with understanding what they may expect as their child grows.

In state fiscal year 2000, 12,307 infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities were served.

Help Me Grow in Hancock County
The family of a 2-year-old girl with delayed language and motor skills was referred to Help Me Grow which provided speech therapy for the child. Today, at age 4, the little girl is enrolled in Head Start and is on target to be ready for kindergarten.
Help Me Grow in Lake County
A 2-year-old with speech delay and some hearing loss was enrolled in Help Me Grow. A developmental exam discovered a small cyst on the bridge of the child's nose, which was growing into the brain tissues and was partially responsible for the developmental delays. Thanks to the early detection, doctors were able to remove the cyst. The child has completely recovered and is developing normally.
Help Me Grow in Tuscarawas County
The deaf parents of a 6-month-old hearing child were referred to Help Me Grow, which put the family in touch with a local agency to provide interpreter services for the parents during home visits. The child, who will soon be 3 years old, communicates orally, uses sign language and is on track developmentally.

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Last Updated: 05/05/2004