Central Intake and Referral (CIR) processed 12,045 system referrals in the third quarter. A referral breakdown is below:

• Caregivers (7.2%);
• HEA8045 forms (9.3%) submitted by HV providers, as well as WIC offices, and other community agencies;
• Medical professionals (11.5%);
• Non-medical community (59.2%) including WIC, community agencies, county agencies, and electronic Pregnancy Risk Assessment Form (e-PRAF) referrals; and
• Public Children Service Agency (PCSA) 8021 forms (12.8%) submitted by children’s services agencies.

Of the 12,045 system referrals, 6,990 were for pregnant women with an average gestational age of 23.3 weeks; and 59 percent identified as Black/African American.

CIR made 818 referrals to Pathways HUB sites from September 2021 to March 2022. Though the Pathways HUB pilot ended in March, CIR will continue to make referrals to the Pathway HUB.

Note: September 2021 had only 13 pilot counties, while October 2021-March 2022 had 36 counties. Monthly numbers have been revised based on most up-to-date data available.

Help Me Grow Central Intake and Referral is excited to launch the Refer-a-Friend Giveaway, a new incentive to encourage current and past Home Visiting participants to refer families they know to the program.

The giveaway will start in MIECHV-funded counties, and possibly expand statewide later in SFY23. 

Outreach staff will deliver promotional cards to HV providers in MIECHV counties to be distributed to your current families, and posters about the giveaway that can be displayed within your organization. 

Bright Beginnings has shared social media posts about the giveaway on its Facebook and Twitter pages, and we encourage all providers to share the content on their social media pages as well. 

Outreach staff will be delivering Share Your Story cards to all Home Visiting providers that encourage current families to share their Home Visiting stories on the helpmegrow.org website.

Please give these to the families you serve so they know how to share their positive experiences and successes. Their stories will be shared on our website, in promotional materials, and with the Home Visiting providers across the state. 

CIR will be representing Help Me Grow at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus July 27-August 7! In collaboration with the Ohio Governor's Imagination Library, Help Me Grow will be hosting a booth in the Ohio Expo Center the entire length of the fair. 

Booth activities will include:

• a craft station, where children can make flower fan art as a part of the Governor’s Children’s Passport Initiative;
• a selfie station, where families can snap photos at a free-standing kiosk while also registering for the Imagination Library;
• a story time station, where families can gather for a new story each hour from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. each day;
• and finally, a referral station where families can ask questions and get connected to Home Visiting and Early Intervention services.

If any of your families will be attending the state fair, have them be on the lookout for our booth! If you are visiting the state fair, please come say hi! 

Have you visited our interactive Community Resource Directories lately?

Did you know that these directories are updated every quarter with new providers and up-to-date contact information for a variety of early childhood services and resources available in all 88 Ohio counties?

Professionals and families alike can search for providers by service area, category, county, keyword, or zip code. Find what you are looking for today at helpmegrow.org/directories.

Do you have any questions regarding anything in this email? Contact us at communications@helpmegrow.org.

Visit us today at www.helpmegrow.org.