The Importance of Developmental and Behavioral Screening
As many as one in six children through the age of five are at risk for a developmental delay or disability. Early identification allows communities to intervene earlier, leading to more effective and fiscally efficient treatment during the preschool years, rather than expensive special education services in later childhood.
The programs that receive funding in this priority area work to increase the number of children 0-5 who are screened for developmental, social/emotional, behavioral, and cognitive delays; connect families to needed services; and identify and address barriers to accessing services.
1 (844) 410-GROW (4769)
Help Me Grow Yolo is part of a researched-based national program focused on early identification and intervention, and a systems approach to linking children and families to needed programs and services. The system leverages existing community resources and helps to bridge partnerships across sectors, including child healthcare, early care and education, and community based organizations, to foster effective care coordination and improving long-term outcomes in health, education, and overall independence. Help Me Grow Yolo is one of 21 counties in the state of California implementing this program, and offers services that include:
- Expanding access to developmental screening for children 0-5, as well as screenings for maternal wellness, mental health, home safety, and basic needs.
- A call center that offers developmental screenings and information about available community resources.
- Training for child health care and education providers about child development, mental health, and the importance of early detection and intervention.
- Ongoing data collection and analysis to help identify gaps in, and barriers to, the system.
CTC’s Weekly Group Schedule:
Monday– Music Group (English) 9:30am
Tuesday– No group offered
Wednesday– Family Dance 9:30am
Thursday– No group offered
Friday–Music Group (Spanish) 9:30am
Last Thursday of every month: Family Fun Event 2pm
First 5 Yolo launched Help Me Grow Yolo in 2015 as a systems approach to improve early childhood mental health. First 5 Yolo is now leveraging funding with County of Yolo Health and Human Services Administration to partner on the expansion and enhancement of the program with a Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) grant.
Multi-lingual Resources
Monitoring child development milestones empowers parents to both celebrate their child’s development and know when to ask for help. Hear how one parent used a screening tool to advocate for her child:
Help Me Grow Inland Empire explains how Help Me Grow works to connect families to the supports they need:
First 5 Explains Developmental Screening
Thank you to our colleagues at First 5 LA!
HMG Yolo supports family struggling in the classroom: read Melissa and Aiden’s story.
How to Screen Your Child Online through HMG Yolo County
The “Why” of Screening
“…You might wonder how a questionnaire can accurately capture all your child’s skills, and if screening might lead to a label or diagnosis. And as a busy, concerned parent, you might have practical questions too, like how long is this going to take? and what happens next?…”
Learn more about the why of screening here (available in English and Spanish)