The Early Intervention Central Intake Bulletin
Central Intake e-Newsletter for Early Intervention providers
April 2020
Welcome back to The Early Intervention Central Intake Bulletin, and thank you for the work you do in supporting families across Ohio!
COVID-19 information shared with referral sources
It is important that referral sources across the state know that Help Me Grow services remain available for pregnant women and families with children with developmental delays and disabilities. We value the knowledge and support you provide, and want to continue connecting families with your services, especially now.

Click here to view our email sent to referral sources regarding the COVID-19 crisis.

Click here to download the Help Me Grow Central Intake COVID-19 Q&A.
SFY20 Second Quarter Referral Data
We are closely monitoring the effects of referrals to Early Intervention during the COVID-19 crisis with the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. Below is the second quarter data, from October-December 2019.
Help Me Grow Central Intake and Referral received 10,500 incoming referrals received for Early Intervention during the second quarter of SFY20. Of those, 9,736 system referrals processed and 7,858 program referrals were assigned to local providers across the state.
In November and December 2019, Central Intake received 222 referrals for children who tested with elevated lead in the blood (≥5ug/dL), under the age of three across 50 counties of the state.
Resources
OCALI Early Childhood Seminars and Resources
Designed for early care and education professionals, the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) has released Early Care and Education seminars that will build your knowledge about infant and toddler growth and development information from prenatal and fetal development. Participation qualifies you for a certificate and Ohio Approved Credit. 
OCALI is also offering a new suite of resources and modules for early childhood professionals. Each module provides information and resources you can use in your setting right away.
Brain Development Podcast
The Center of the Developing Child at Harvard University have developed a podcast series, The Brain Architects, focused on the importance of healthy brain development during a child’s early years.

Learn why early childhood experiences are important for brain development and how those experiences affect a child’s future health and outcomes. In addition to the podcast, the center provides other resources, such as videos, websites, and articles, on brain architecture and function.
Census 2020: Counting Young Children
It is important families still complete the Census during this time. Did you know that nearly five percent of children under five were not counted in the 2010 Census? That was the highest of any age group!

The 2020 Census will help determine how more than $675 billion in federal funding is distributed to communities for the next decade. That includes funding and support that goes towards early childhood development programs.

U.S. Census Bureau research shows that young children are not included in census responses because there is confusion about who to count. Here are some tips for helping families complete their Census:

  • Count children in the home where they live and sleep most of the time, even if parent does not live there.
  • If a family just had a baby who is still in the hospital on Census Day (April 1, 2020), count the baby at the home where he or she will live and sleep most of the time.
  • If children spend time in more than one home, count them where they stay most often. If time is divided evenly, count them where they are staying April 1, 2020.
  • If a child is being cared for by a family member or family friend, and the child doesn’t have a permanent place to live, count the child where he or she is staying on April 1, 2020, even if it is temporary.
  • If you are unsure, count them. The Census Bureau has developed new ways to identify duplicates. 
Did you know?
Families can receive both Early Intervention and Home Visiting services!

If you are currently serving a family who could use extra support welcoming a new child, refer them to Home Visiting!
We are all concerned about the impact of the COVID-19 virus could have on families throughout Ohio. We appreciate the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities' leadership, and are glad to partner with them and providers to get families connected to support during this unprecedented time.

If you have any questions regarding the information in this email, contact us at info@helpmegrow.org.
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