Central Intake and Referral (CIR) processed 10,132 system referrals for EI in the second quarter of SFY23. There was a 13 percent increase in physician referrals and a 16 percent increase in family and caregiver referrals compared to this time last year! Of those system referrals, 7,867 program referrals were assigned to local EI providers across the state.

From the Ohio Department of Health, CIR received 480 referrals for children with elevated blood lead levels (EBLL) and 124 referrals for children diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS)*.

*The NAS referrals referenced here are referrals CIR receives from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). These referrals are only for children whose NAS diagnosis has been verified through ODH’s Ohio Connections for Children with Special Needs (OCCSN) system and constitute a small subset of the overall number of children diagnosed with NAS.

"My husband and I feel blessed to have been referred to Help Me Grow’s Early Intervention program."

Early Intervention was spotlighted in an issue of Toledo Parent in SFY23!

Both families and professionals are encouraged to share their experiences with us! We love to spotlight program successes on our websites, publications, and social media. If you know a family, referral source, or other early childhood professional who has a positive Help Me Grow story to share, we encourage you to pass along the story sharing form linked below so we can hear all about it!

The Help Me Grow one-page flyer describing Early Intervention and Home Visiting services has been updated with a new look. Printed copies of this version will be made available through CIR outreach by the end of the fiscal year.

To order other materials currently available, complete the EI order form at www.helpmegrow.org/EIToolkit

Don't forget about the EI communications toolkit!

It is an extensive guide that includes EI talking points, brand guidance, and customizable templates to promote the program.

Still have questions? Email communications@helpmegrow.org.

Remember: Families can receive both Early Intervention and Home Visiting services! If you are currently serving a family who could use extra support welcoming a new child, refer them to Home Visiting!

Need some extra help describing Home Visiting? CIR has three vignette videos featuring families enrolled in Home Visiting. Please consider using the videos below in spreading the word about Home Visiting and its impact on families.

Check out this webinar from the U.S. Department of Education that highlights how federal, state, and local agencies can work together with families to support the growth and development of infants and toddlers with disabilities.

Presenters provide strategies and resources on implementing an equitable and comprehensive system that identifies, locates, and evaluates infants and toddlers with delays and disabilities. 

Do you have any questions regarding anything in this email?

Contact us at communications@helpmegrow.org.

Past editions of this eNewsletter can be found at helpmegrow.org/providers.