FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Help Me Grow Program now offered at DOH-Volusia’s WIC and Nutrition Services

DAYTONA BEACH - The Florida Department of Health in Volusia County (DOH-Volusia) is now offering eligible clients an opportunity to complete an early childhood developmental screening as part of the Help Me Grow Program offered through the United Way of Volusia and Flagler Counties’ 2-1-1. Help Me Grow is a unique, comprehensive, and integrated statewide system designed to address the need for early identification of developmental and/or behavioral concerns, and then to link children, ages birth to 8 years old, and their families to community-based developmental and behavioral services and supports. The Goal of Help Me Grow Florida is to promote healthy development for every child in Florida.

Starting on July 1, DOH-Volusia’s WIC and Nutrition Services began offering clients the Ages and Stages questionnaire, an early childhood developmental screening which helps to assess their child’s development over five categories. Clients use I-pads to answer a survey about their child’s development. The results are submitted electronically to the Help Me Grow Florida: Volusia Flagler Counties’ program coordinator and a Help Me Grow case coordinator follows up with the families to provide referrals to services if needed.

The Help Me Grow Program offers families:

• Free developmental screening, without waitlists or income limits

• Activities that support healthy growth and learning

• Community resources, from parenting classes to food pantries

• Referrals for evaluation and early intervention services

Parents with concerns about their child’s development may call Help Me Grow at 2-1-1 or 386-253-0564 and the United Way’s knowledgeable staff will help connect them to valuable services. For more information please visit www.helpmegrowvfc.org to find out more about the program and to complete a free online developmental screening for a child.

Help Me Grow Florida: Volusia-Flagler Counties is a partnership with United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties 211/First Call for Help, Early Learning Coalition of Flagler Volusia and Easter Seals of Volusia Flagler and is sponsored by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council and the Florida Department of Education, Office of Early Learning.