The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately one in five young children will demonstrate a behavioral or developmental issue prior to age five. Early identification and intervention is the key to ensuring that children with specific challenges receive the help or therapy needed prior to Kindergarten.
Help Me Grow Hillsborough provides caregivers access to free developmental screening. Families are able to call 2-1-1 and ask for Help Me Grow where a care coordinator will conduct an Ages and Stages Questionnaire that addresses five domains
- Communication
- Social-Emotional
- Fine Motor
- Gross Motor
- Cognitive/Problem Solving
Help Me Grow coordinators are then able to provide caregivers with enrichment activities and connect to programs in the community depending on the need of the family. Help Me Grow is for all families, whether there is a concern or not, it provides an opportunity to see if the child is developmentally on track, exceling, or in need of extra support.
For more information, call 2-1-1 and ask for Help Me Grow. You can also email dmink@ecctampabay.org
