Help Me Grow Early Intervention - Family, Adult and Children First Council Fairfield County, Ohio

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
Help Me Grow
Early Intervention Service Coordination
(RFP Questions/Answers)

BROCHURES/RESOURCES:

Early Intervention (EI) is a statewide system that provides coordinated early intervention services to parents of eligible children under the age of three with developmental delays or disabilities. EI is grounded in the philosophy that young children learn best from familiar people in familiar settings. Every family served in EI will have a local EI team that consists of a service coordinator, service providers, and your family. Your team works with you in your home or other places you and your family spend time to develop a coordinated plan called an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). You and your team will work through your IFSP plan to use your existing supports and resources—and build upon them—to learn to enhance your child’s learning and development.

AUTISM RESOURCES

Ohio's Parent Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorder

FAQ -Help Me Grow Early Intervention

WHAT IS EARLY INTERVENTION?
Early Intervention is a voluntary program that offers coordinated services to parents of infants and toddlers with disabilities or developmental delays. Early Intervention communicates with parents, doctors, hospitals, child care providers and other community agencies to identify children with existing developmental delays or those with medical diagnoses with a high probability of resulting in a delay. Infants or toddlers are evaluated using appropriate diagnostic tools by an interdisciplinary team at absolutely no cost to the family. If needed, individualized services are provided to the child and family through a Service Coordinator who guides the family through every aspect of the process, from program entry until the child transitions out by age three.

WHAT IS HELP ME GROW HOME VISITING?
Home Visitation is a voluntary program that serves expectant mothers and new mothers by providing information, support, and encouragement. Home visitors educate parents about the importance of the early years of a child’s life through high quality and evidence based home visiting services. The program creates a strong foundation for future achievements by supporting positive interaction with children in a stable and stimulating environment.

WHO CAN REFER A CHILD TO HELP ME GROW HOME VISITING OR HELP ME GROW EARLY INTERVENTION?
Anyone can refer a child by calling our intake specialist at 740-681-4881, calling Central Coordination at 800-755-GROW (4769), or submitting an online referral form.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A CHILD IS REFERRED?
After a referral is made the intake specialist will contact the parents to gain pertinent information and to schedule the family for an intake visit with a service coordinator or home visitor. The intake process is conducted in the family’s home or a different setting that is convenient to the family.

HOW LONG CAN A FAMILY RECEIVE SERVICES THROUGH HOME VISITING OR EARLY INTERVENTION?
A child can remain in Home Visiting and/or Early Intervention until they turn 3 years of age.

HOW IS YOUR AGENCY FUNDED?
Fairfield County Help Me Grow Home Visiting is funded by the Ohio Department of Health/Federal Government and is administered through Lancaster-Fairfield Community Action. Early Intervention is funded through the Department of Developmental Disabilities/Federal Government and is administered through the Fairfield County Family, Adult & Children First Council.