1. Help Me Grow Florida for Health Care Professionals
[Note to Trainer: The text in the notes section provides you with a possible script for each slide. Feel free to modify the language to suit your style and audience. The text in brackets are notes to you and are not intended to be read. We recommend your reading through the PowerPoint and notes before presenting so you can make any changes or additions you feel necessary for your particular audience.]
Welcome!
My name is [introduce self and your position and organization, and organization’s mission].
The goal for today's webinar is to share information about Help Me Grow Florida and how it can assist you in your role in ensuring children’s healthy development.
If lunch or breakfast is provided, explain who is funding the meal & training and why.
Administer Pre-Test here.
Developmental Monitoring & Connecting Children to Local Services & Supports
Sponsored by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. and The Florida Department of Education, Office of Early Learning

2. Developmental surveillance and screening are integral to well-child care.
Key Points
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the use of surveillance at all well-child visits and the use of a formal screening tool at 9, 18 and 24 (30) month well child visits.
When concerns are identified for children ages birth through age 8, call and ask for Help Me Grow, a free service.
So let’s get started!
The focus today is on early detection and connecting children to services.
As you know, research clearly shows that when developmental concerns are addressed at a young age children have the best chance of benefiting form intervention. When we combine these findings with the emerging knowledge about early brain development, the case for early identification of developmental delays and intervention is compelling.
Therefore, tools that focus on optimal child development are integral to well-child care. [CLICK] Those tools are developmental surveillance and developmental screening.
In fact, [CLICK] The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the use of surveillance at all well-child visits and the use of a formal screening tools at 9, 18 and 24 (30) month well child visits.
And we are going to talk about what to do when concerns are identified. [CLICK] For children ages birth through 8, you can call 2-1-1/Help Me Grow.
[CLICK] Help Me Grow will help you connect children to the community-based services and supports they need.
In addition, all resources mentioned will be included in supplemental materials that will be available to you.
Help Me Grow helps you connect children to the community-based services and supports they need.
Sponsored by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. and The Florida Department of Education, Office of Early Learning

3. Washington AAP Developmental Screening Orientation Webinar
Why Are Surveillance & Screening Part of Pediatric Care?
Children see the doctor up to 12 times during the first two years of life for well care.
Research shows that 12-16% of children are at risk for developmental and/or behavioral problems.
BUT without surveillance and screening, a majority of children aren’t identified as in need of services & supports.
Why are developmental surveillance and screening part of pediatric care? [CLICK]
First, you as child health professionals are in a prime position to detect developmental and behavioral problems and connect these children to existing services. [CLICK] Children see the doctor as many as 12 times during the first two years of life for well care. Not only that, schools, camps, and child care require that that children have documentation of routine well child care.
So you see them… A LOT. [CLICK]
Second, 12-16% of children are at risk for developmental and/or behavioral problems. And research shows [CLICK] that without continuous developmental surveillance and periodic, standardized developmental screening, those children are not identified as in need of appropriate services and supports. They fall through the cracks—and we miss them during the time when interventions are most effective (and cost-effective.)
The Washington Chapter of the AAP has some convincing statistics [CLICK]: detection rates of developmental disabilities rise from 20% to 70-80% with the use of a standardized screening tool.
This study is included in the resources for your review.
Washington AAP Developmental Screening Orientation Webinar
Sponsored by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. and The Florida Department of Education, Office of Early Learning

4. Surveillance, Screening & Assessments?
What’s the difference between…
Surveillance, Screening & Assessments?
Ongoing developmental surveillance is continued observation of a child over time. It gives you a longitudinal understanding of the child’s growth.
Developmental screening is a snapshot of a child at a single point in time. It complements ongoing surveillance. One doesn’t replace the other.
The results of a screening may indicate that other, more in-depth assessments, often done by specialists, are necessary.
I want to take a minute now to review the difference between surveillance, screening, and assessments.
SURVEILLANCE: Healthcare professionals use ongoing, rigorous developmental surveillance to get a longitudinal understanding of a child’s growth. Is it done in partnership with the child’s parent as you elicit their concerns and observe the child over time.
SCREENING: Periodic screening with a standardized tool complements this surveillance. One doesn’t replace the other.
The results of a screening may indicate that other, more in-depth assessments often done by specialists are necessary.
ASSESSMENTS A screening that results in a concern will most likely lead to further assessment by specialists who are trained to identify and diagnose developmental and behavioral concerns. This diagnosis relies on multiple sources of information from such specialists as well as those who know the child well.
For example, if a screening indicates a possible language delay further evaluation by a speech and language specialist would be appropriate. w the child well.
Sponsored by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. and The Florida Department of Education, Office of Early Learning

5. Commonly Used Screening Tools
Ages & Stages Questionnaire-3 (ASQ-3)
Ages and Stages Social Emotional (ASQ: SE-2)
Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status
(PEDS)
There are a number of reliable and valid Screening Tools that can be use in your office . Here are three commonly used tools.
Ages & Stages Questionnaire-3 (ASQ-3)
Ages & States Social Emotional (ASQ: SE-2)
Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS)
Sponsored by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. and The Florida Department of Education, Office of Early Learning

6. Surveillance & Screening in My Office?
How do I implement…
Surveillance & Screening in My Office?
Call and ask for Help Me Grow.
We can help you develop surveillance and screening systems that work for your office.
You might be wondering—so how do I implement Surveillance & Screening in My Office? We suggest that you call and ask for Help Me Grow. THEY can help you develop surveillance and screening systems that work for your office.
All Help Me Grow Florida affiliate sites use the ASQ-3, as well as the Pediatric Checklist for children 5.5 to 8, and the ASQ : Social-Emotional-2, both of which we’ll touch in in a few minutes
At many HMG sites, 2-1-1/HMG will offer to do the ASQ online and also through their call center
Sponsored by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. and The Florida Department of Education, Office of Early Learning

7. Now that we’ve touched on developmental screening and surveillance, let’s look at what exactly Help Me Grow is—and does.
Help Me Grow is a free, confidential service. The central component is a call center. The care coordinators at the call center are specially trained to take the calls of parents, teachers, or health care providers about children’s health, development, behavior or learning. They are knowledgeable about community services and specially skilled at connecting families and their children to these services.
Help Me Grow is part of a national initiative that is designed to identify children (ages 0-8 years) at-risk for developmental or behavioral challenges, and connect them with community-based programs for health and developmental services. This system is designed to support the questions and concerns of families and providers. It also supports early detection for health or developmental concerns.
Help Me Grow Florida is an affiliate of the Help Me Grow National Network, a group of more than 25 states implementing Help Me Grow systems.
In Florida, Help Me Grow is funded through by the legislature through the Department of Education Office of Early Learning and the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council; some chapters (such as Miami and Hillsborough) are funded through their local Children Services Councils.   
Our shared goal is to promote healthy development for every child in Florida.
Help Me Grow is a system for early identification of developmental and educational concerns that links children and their families to community-based services and supports.
Sponsored by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. and The Florida Department of Education, Office of Early Learning

8. Help Me Grow in 7 Steps Well-child visits (Surveillance & Screening)1
Well-child visits (Surveillance & Screening) 7
Information loops back to you from HMG 2
You solicit family opinions
Help Me Grow in 7 Steps
Together, identify behavioral and/or developmental concern 3 6
Family connected to resources
Help Me Grow can also be understood as a seven-step process.
First a parent brings their child to a well-child visit,
you solicit the families opinions,
together you identify a concern and you or the parent contacts HMG. T
he telephone care coordinator talks to the family, researches the services and connects the families to the resources. This step is crucial in efficiently connecting families to services, as research shows it can take as many as 7 to 8 calls to get a service in place for a family. HMG does that work for the family and you. All you need to do is connect the family with HMG.
The information loops back to the child health provider once the connection is completed.
HMG Care Coordinator provides resources 5 4
You or family contact Help Me Grow
Sponsored by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. and The Florida Department of Education, Office of Early Learning

9. How to Use Help Me Grow
CALL and ask for Help Me Grow Help Me Grow Care Coordinators will then contact the family.
INSTRUCT a family to call 2-1-1/Help Me Grow during an office visit. “How about you make the call now? I’ll go see another patient and connect back with you.”
WRITE a “prescription” to call 2-1-1/Help Me Grow
FAX a referral form to Help Me Grow (call 2-1-1/HMG for forms) Help Me Grow Care Coordinators will contact the family.
When you identify a concern, you can contact Help Me Grow in any of the following ways. This information is included in the supplemental materials, as are sample referral forms and “prescription” pads.
CALL and ask for Help Me Grow Help Me Grow Care Coordinators will then contact the family.
INSTRUCT a family to call 2-1-1/Help Me Grow during an office visit. “How about you make the call now? I’ll go see another patient and connect back with you.”
WRITE a “prescription” to call 2-1-1/Help Me Grow
FAX a referral form to Help Me Grow (call 2-1-1/HMG for forms) Help Me Grow Care Coordinators will contact the family.
Sponsored by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. and The Florida Department of Education, Office of Early Learning

10. Barriers to Surveillance & Screening… …and How Help Me Grow Eases Them
Lack of system for linkage to community-based referral resource
Help Me Grow is a FREE service that links children to community-based resources
No time to learn the range of resources available
Help Me Grow maintains a comprehensive, up-to-date resource directory
Another way to think of HMG is as a solution to the problem we’ve touched on: that 12 to 16 percent of all American children experience developmental or behavioral problems — but families, child health care professionals, early care & education, and human service providers often struggle to recognize early signs of such concerns.
Here’s the next difficulty: When needs are at last identified, finding programs designed to address them can be confusing and time-consuming. Too many children are not getting the help they need because it’s so hard to link them to services.
And that’s where Help Me Grow comes in. Help Me Grow helps ease all those barriers and obstacles. HMG serves as the connective tissue that supports a whole system, from parental concerns to professional screening and assessment to diagnosis, triage, early intervention and care coordination. 
These are 5 examples of how Help Me Grow eases barriers to surveillance and screening.
[CLICK]
1. BARRIER Lack of system for linkage to community-based referral resource. HOW HELP ME GROW HELPS: Help Me Grow is a FREE service that links children to community-based resources
2. BARRIER No time to learn the range of resources available. HOW HELP ME GROW HELPS: Help Me Grow maintains a comprehensive, up-to-date resource directory
3. BARRIER Unfamiliarity with screening tools HOW HELP ME GROW HELPS Help Me Grow can provide trainings on screening tools
Unfamiliarity with screening tools
Help Me Grow can provide trainings on screening tools
Sponsored by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. and The Florida Department of Education, Office of Early Learning

11. Barriers to Surveillance & Screening… …and How Help Me Grow Eases Them
Help Me Grow streamlines the referral process
Insufficient time
Concerns about cost
Help Me Grow is a FREE service for you and your patients
[CLICK]
5. BARRIER Insufficient time HOW HELP ME GROW HELPS: Help Me Grow streamlines the referral process. Connecting to Help Me Grow is not time-intensive. In fact, it’s one phone call. Help Me Grow Care Coordinators take it from there—and they will link back to you with information about outcomes without you needing to follow up.
5. BARRIER Concerns about cost HOW HELP ME GROW HELPS: Help Me Grow is a FREE service for you and your patients
Also—speaking of costs, [CLICK] I want to point out a A 2012 study found that use of Help Me Grow in Orange County, CA, for one year resulted in a reduction of $500,000 in the health care system there. Nationally, this could lead to health care cost-savings of more than $50 million annually. You can learn more about this study in the supplemental materials we’ll share at the end of the presentation.
And speaking of costs…
A 2012 study found that use of Help Me Grow in Orange County, CA, for one year resulted in a reduction of $500,000 in the health care system there. Nationally, this could lead to health care cost-savings of more than $50 million annually.
Sponsored by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. and The Florida Department of Education, Office of Early Learning

12. Developmental surveillance and screening are integral to well-child care for the first 8 years of life.
In Summary
AAP recommends the use of surveillance at all well-child visits and the use of a formal screening tool at 9, 18 and 24(30) month well child visits.
When concerns are identified for children ages birth through age 8, call and ask for Help Me Grow, a free service.
In closing, I want to quickly revisit the key points of today’s presentation.
Much more information is included in the supplemental materials. Some topics include: billing for screening, AAP screening & surveillance policy statement, Bright Futures guidelines, what happens when you call or a family calls HMG, more benefits of Help Me Grow, information about Help Me Grow and the maintenance of certification, how to get in touch with Help Me Grow for follow-up questions…and more!!
Help Me Grow helps you connect children to the community-based services and supports they need.
Sponsored by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. and The Florida Department of Education, Office of Early Learning

13. Katherine Suarez Espinosa, Ed.S.
Keep in touch!
Katherine Suarez Espinosa, Ed.S.
Help Me Grow Florida State Coordinator
ext. 119
Before you go, please do fill out your evaluation form, located in your supplemental materials. Your response helps us make our presentations better!
Thank you so much for your time.
Sponsored by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. and The Florida Department of Education, Office of Early Learning