Help Me Grow offers free screenings fun toys for young families

In the world of COVID-19, Help Me Grow Brevard can't host young families at "Books, Balls & Blocks," where babies grasp plush fruits and geometric shapes, toddlers match colors and numbers in plastic eggs and preschoolers race through collapsible tunnels.

Bummer, but wait…

We CAN continue to offer free child development screenings and, for the month of June, free educational toys for families who participate and confer with the Help Me Grow care coordinator about results and recommendations.

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The link to the screening is www.bit.ly/211Brevard.

"I talk to parents about areas where their children may be ahead or behind or maybe right on track," said Kara Bradley, care coordinator. "If there are concerns, I work with them to find resources that meet their needs, income and insurance.

"If a child is just a little behind for a developmental milestone, I can send learning activities electronically that parents may use to help their child catch up."

Children ages 2 months to 5½ years are eligible for the Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3). The care coordinator may offer additional screenings, including the ASQ:SE-2, which tracks social-emotional health.

Led by nonprofit 211 Brevard

Help Me Grow Brevard is a coalition of nonprofit and government agencies led by 211 Brevard, which works to increase the number of young children who get routine developmental screenings.

211 Brevard is an affiliate of Help Me Grow Florida, a state-funded system designed to promote healthy development for every child.

"This is a program we pursued about five years ago because we knew we already were talking to many young families with challenges," said Libby Donoghue, 2-1-1 Brevard executive director.

"We can offer additional support to parents who call 2-1-1 for help with financial struggles by then addressing any concerns about their children. And we also can offer help with basic needs to moms and dads whom we encounter because of our outreach related to child development."

Help Me Grow Brevard facilitated 730 screenings and served 569 children in 498 families in fiscal year 2018-19.

"We're on track to match those numbers for the current fiscal year ending June 30, even with disruptions from COVID-19," Donoghue said. "We've just had to adapt our model to the virtual world."

Early detection, early intervention

Research shows that 1 out of 6 children experiences developmental delays, learning disorders or behavioral and social-emotional problems. Early detection leads to early intervention and better long-term results.

Dr. Preeti Bimbrahw of Viera Pediatrics serves as a "physician champion" for Help Me Grow Brevard, stressing the importance of monitoring child development.

"While many things slowed or stopped while we have been dealing with COVID-19, our children continued to grow every single day," she said.

"It's even more important to track development to make sure a child is meeting milestones when that child may not be participating in normal activities such as play groups with peers."

Bimbrahw, a mother of three, evaluates child development in her practice and refers families to Help Me Grow Brevard for additional screenings and resources. She is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.

"The earlier concerns are identified," she said, "the sooner interventions can start."

Program is group effort

The learning toys for June are courtesy of United Way of Brevard and Good360, which helps "socially responsible" companies make product donations in "challenging circumstances," in this case, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The toys will be provided to qualifying families at the end of the month through "contact-free" pickup or delivery. They include, while supplies last: Little Tykes Memory Match, Robotic Lab Puzzle to Go, My Day Touch & Feel Puzzle, LEGO City Fire ATV and LEGO Star Wars Naboo Starfighter.

In May, families completed more than 60 screenings and United Way paid for age-appropriate books shipped directly to homes.

Bradley will continue to work with families who need support and check in later with families who don't. It must have been at least 60 days since a child's last screening with Help Me Grow to qualify for the new toys.

The Help Me Grow Brevard partnership includes 2-1-1 Brevard, Early Learning Coalition of Brevard, Healthy Start Coalition, Space Coast Early Steps, Brevard Health Alliance, Florida Department of Health in Brevard, Brevard Public Schools, Space Coast Health Foundation, Brevard Homeless Coalition and United Way of Brevard Healthy Families.

Help Me Grow Florida is sponsored by the Children's Forum and the State of Florida, Office of Early Learning.

Learn more by calling 2-1-1 and asking for Help Me Grow., visiting 211brevard.org/help-me-grow or helpmegrowfl.org, or going to www.facebook.com/helpmegrowbrevard.

Belinda Stewart is the Communications Manager for 2-1-1 Brevard

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Help Me Grow offers free screenings, fun toys for young families

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