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SLO County Health Access Update
Connecting Children Ages 0-5 to Health Care
August 2020
Information and articles from these newsletters are housed on the San Luis Obispo County Health Access website. The website is updated frequently and is intended as a resource for professionals working with children ages 0-5 and their families. Please visit: www.slohealthaccess.org

Updates about pandemic resources are located on pages listed under the Coronavirus tab: www.slohealthaccess.org/coronavirus.html
SLO County Help Me Grow
Help Me Grow is a county-wide system that supports children and their families by providing free developmental screenings and linkages to services that promote optimal growth.

A Help Me Grow referral can assist with:
  • facilitating an ASQ screening tool or help to score/understand an ASQ screening tool,
  • educating on child development,
  • providing parents or caregivers activities to help strengthen their child's development specific to them/their routine,
  • identifying resources in the community, and
  • identifying local providers

Any child ages birth through 5 years old who is a SLO County resident is eligible. All services are provided free of charge. A Help Me Grow Family Resource Center located at 1030 Southwood Drive, SLO is open by appointment only at this time.

Contact SLO Help Me Grow:
(805) 544-4355 x282
slohmg@capslo.org
#CallYourPediatrician
It's important to remind parents not to skip their child’s vaccines or checkups. Pediatricians have implemented strict safety measures and are offering video visits and other options. 

Encourage parents to schedule a “well visit” to receive vaccines. Spread the word with these social media campaigns: #CallYourPediatrician

Information for parents about childhood vaccines is available here.

Expectant parents can learn more about the vaccines recommended during pregnancy with CDC’s interactive vaccine guide.
2020 Census - Last Chance to Get Counted
San Luis Obispo County residents who have not responded to the 2020 Census may see official census takers from the US Census Bureau at their doors now. Census takers began going door to door in SLO County on August 11. Please continue to encourage families to participate in the Census, staying six feet apart from census takers during face-to-face interviews.

Anyone who has questions or needs help filling out their Census survey can call the SLO County Census Questionnaire phone line at 805-781-5011. Assistance in English and Spanish is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Families can still fill out their Census survey by phone or online.
To fill out the survey online by smartphone or computer: 
my2020census.gov (a Spanish version can be selected in the upper right corner)  
To fill out the survey by telephone: call (844) 330-2020 for English or (844) 468-2020 for Spanish. 

The last day of census taking has been moved up to September 30. There is only a short amount of time to encourage our hard-to-reach populations, including families in shared households, Spanish-speaking families, and families with young children, to take the Census. Responding to the Census takes less than 10 minutes and will help ensure the San Luis Obispo County receives our fair share of funding. Spread the word!
Help your clients avoid scams -- for a "How to Identify a Census Taker" graphic to send out to your clients (in Spanish and English), go to:

Preschool Behavior Support Webinar Series
San Luis Obispo SELPA is sharing a unique learning opportunity focused on managing and supporting behaviors in preschoolers. This 6-Part Live Recorded Webinar Series is designed to be shared with special education teams and relevant for all educators and parents.
Kimberli Breen, National Behavior Change Agent, will explore some of the most reliable methods for managing preschoolers both as individuals and in groups. Topics will include:
  • proactive strategies,
  • setting limits,
  • emotional regulation,
  • learning-to-learn skills,
  • parent/school collaboration,
  • and maximizing virtual instruction opportunities.

View all 6 sessions: 5/19 - 10/13
Questions: Contact zmoore@sloselpa.org or dcleere@sloselpa.org or call 805-782-7301
Health Access Information at SLOHealthAccess.org
SLOHealthAccess.org has a wealth of information to help you help families, with local resources related to:
  • Coronavirus Resources    
  • Special Needs    
  • Behavioral Health
  • Immigration: safety and service access  
  • Dental
  • Prescriptions
  • Medi-Cal & Covered CA
  • Transportation
  • Parental Substance Use, and 
  • Resources to help parents advocate for services

General needs and system navigation:
Send families in need of help to their local Family Resource Center. Download the Family Resource Center Directory here

Can't find an answer? 
Let us know and we will find you the information you are looking for. For general questions about health access and health care reform, contact:
Becca Carsel, Health Access Project Director, 
at (805) 674-0776 or becca@carselgroup.com