State Program Helps Kids Succeed

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February 27, 2017

Help Me Grow is a local resource for parents of children who need a helping hand meeting developmental milestones. The much-needed service is available at no cost.

Family-focused, family-friendly

The program is made up of two components: the early intervention program for children with disabilities, developmental delays and medical conditions which cause developmental deficiencies and the home-visiting support program for expecting mothers and new parents of a child under six months old, said Deborah Armstead, central intake specialist at Help Me Grow’s Lucas County office.

“This is very family-focused and family-friendly,” Armstead said.

The program, offered through the Ohio Department of Health, is available in every Ohio county. About 85 percent of participating Lucas County families are referred by primary care physicians, according to Armstead. Referrals also come from social service agencies, children’s services and the health department.

Screenings cover vision, hearing, dental, speech and language skills, gross and fine motor skills, physical growth, and social and emotional behavior. Evaluations are then done to determine the child’s specific needs to match the child with needed services.

“We respect what the family wants. If they’re not ready to enroll, we respect that. If there’s an issue that merits need they usually do call us back,” Armstead said.

Children and their families enrolled in the program receive free in-home visits and early intervention from birth to age 3. A specialist works with the family until the child overcomes the deficit or ages out of the program, Armstead said. Those children that still need services are then transitioned to the early childhood program in their school district.

Guiding the family

Kristin Staton, a licensed social worker and early intervention service coordinator at the Family & Child Abuse Prevention Center, said the program helps guide the family to services available for their child and assures that they’re happy with those choices.

“We provide coaching and strategies to use within their daily routines to help obtain what they’re looking for, for example getting a two-year-old to say that they’re hungry,” Staton said of children who may not be reaching their verbal milestones. Some of the best ways to do that are to talk about the things you see and do and read books to the child.

For children not meeting physical milestones there are tricks that can be used to help them build strength and muscle tone, Staton said, such as placing objects slightly out of their reach so that the child has to work to get it.

“Best practice is to use toys already in the home so they don’t have to buy anything” Staton said, adding that they will provide some items in situations where it is really needed.
Sessions can be weekly or monthly, as long as needs are being met.

Help Me Grow’s website (helpmegrow.ohio.gov)provides webinars, as well as useful links and resources, including a developmental guide for parents to see what their child may be capable of by a certain age. There are also tips on pregnancy, child safety, breastfeeding, immunizations, sleep, potty training and more.

Transition Training: Preparing for the next stage

The Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD) is hosting a free parent training to prepare parents and students for the move from school to adulthood. Parents gain an understanding of the importance of transition planning for youth with special needs. Discussions focus on the requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 for writing a transition plan, when the process should begin and timelines. The training is Tuesday, March 21 from 6-8pm at the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities. Call 419-214-3066 for more information or to register for the free training.

Want to get your child assessed?

Help Me Grow Lucas County:
419-725-7194

Help Me Grow Northwest Ohio*:
419-648-8732
*serves Defiance, Fulton, Henry
and Williams counites

Cardinal Stritch student service project

By

Emily Remaklus

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February 27, 2017

Cardinal-Stritch-HighSchool-Toledo — *Cardinal Stritch Art teacher Lauren Hurd shows the Cardinal Coloring Book created by students in her Art 1 class.*

Toledo has an impressive art scene and one of the country’s best art museums, as well as a talented and generous group of young area artists.

From art project to service project

Lauren Hurd is a first year art teacher at Cardinal Stritch and she has already found a way to connect her art projects and students to a bigger cause.

What started out as a class assignment turned into something much more. “My Art 1 class was focusing on creating patterns and designs for a print-making project, and [the students] kept telling me they wanted to color their designs,” said Hurd. “They brought up the whole adult coloring book idea and we were all saying ‘Yeah! We should make one and print it.”

Between 60 and 70 high school students submitted possible designs to be included. About a third of the students’ work was selected to be published in the 28 page coloring book and the students played a vital part in the arrangement and process of creating the book.

Therapeutic benefit

“I have a couple friends who are nurses at Toledo Children’s Hospital and they repeatedly told me they had a lot of coloring books and activities for younger children but not many for teens,” Hurd explained. This conversation led to the donation of the coloring books to the teenage patients at the hospital. “I liked the idea of giving something physical that they could look back on, rather than a tablet” she added.

Adult coloring is a growing trend and researchers praise the benefits of the practice as adult coloring acts as a sort of meditation that lowers stress levels, promotes creation and expels negative thoughts.

Toledo Children’s Hospital found the coloring book to be a therapeutic benefit to the parents of children at the hospital, as well as their adolescent patients.

When asked about future projects, Hurd explained, “I had a parent ask if I was planning on doing this in the future. I think this would a highly justifiable yearly project.”

The Cardinal Coloring Book has brought smiles to many faces, and most of all to Hurd. “I just am incredibly impressed and proud of my students”.

A Positive Dental Visit for Your Child

By

Michael McVicker

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February 27, 2017

More than half the American population never receive dental care due to fear and anxiety. This image of dentistry is reinforced by the media on a daily basis. Parents can unknowingly pass this anxiety on to their children, perpetuating this emotion during their visit to the dentist. Fortunately, new technologies in preventive family dental care are pushing the old anxiety-ridden “drill and fill” days into the past. Earlier and more accurate cavity detection, gentler and more conservative treatment, and BPA-free biocompatible tooth colored dental fillings are now available.

With the advent of fluoride in our water supply and toothpaste, a new type of cavity has evolved. Microscopic holes deep in the grooves of teeth harbor bacteria, and the latest research states that up to 50 percent of cavities are not detected by traditional dental x-rays and hand instruments. Dental sealants placed in your child’s teeth have been shown to actually cover this hidden decay and allow the condition to worsen.

Fortunately, dental technology has developed an instrument called Diagnodent which uses a laser with over 98% accuracy to find these previously hidden cavities. This gives dentists a sure-fire technique to diagnose tooth decay in its earliest stage and allow for more conservative and less costly treatment.

Air Abrasion Microdentistry allows tooth decay to be painlessly removed without the need for shots, drilling, and numb lips and tongue. The cavity is, in effect, “airbrushed” away by a finely directed supersonic air stream containing a mildly abrasive powder. Since a cavity is softer than the surrounding tooth structure, the air spray follows the path of least resistance and removes only the decay, leaving the remaining healthy tooth intact. Even more amazing is the fact that sensitive nerve endings in the tooth are “shut down”, eliminating the need for anesthetic injection. Finally, a tooth colored, BPA-free filling is placed and laser-bonded, and in just a few minutes, a decayed tooth has become practically bulletproof! Dental sealants for children can now be successfully placed when this procedure is followed, assuring a cavity-free tooth.

This “less is better” dental treatment results in stronger teeth, lower cost, and a stress-free dental experience for both parent and child.

Michael C. McVicker, DDS offers holistic dental care for the entire family, located
at 3829 Woodley Rd. Suite 5, Toledo, Ohio. For appointments, call 419-474-5955.
For more information, visit ExceptionalSmiles.com

New iJump program lets children dance and cheer

By

Kimberly Feldkamp

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February 27, 2017

iDance Adaptive Performing Arts Center has a new program, iJump, for children ages 5-8. The hour long class, dedicated to tumbling, dance and cheer, is just $25 per month. iDance also offers an iFit Gym, with stationary bikes, treadmills and free staff instruction, along with a iZumba class and Drum Fit programs. iDance’s mission is to foster a love of performing arts with creative expression for individuals with developmental challenges and special needs.

iDance Adaptive Performing Arts Center
151 N. Michigan Ave | Ste. 328
419- 309-1610

Find a super nanny with the Nanny Miller Agency

By

Kimberly Feldkamp

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February 27, 2017

Looking for a super nanny to help watch your children? The new Nanny Miller Agency can help.

The agency completes the interview process for nannies (contacting references, completing background checks and drug tests) and trains them according to the International Nanny Association training, along with first aid and CPR. The Nanny Miller Agency meets with families looking to hire nannies, provides home evaluations and assessments, and provides families with a list of potential caregivers. Families can then interview the trained nannies and find the best fit.

The agency’s goal is to simplify the search process for both nannies and families.
The Nanny Miller Agency | NannyMillerAgency.com | 419-277-8434

Toledo’s Main Library opens new Creativity Lab

By

Kimberly Feldkamp

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February 27, 2017

More than 2,500 square feet of space is open for fun, dynamic play in the Children’s Library at the Main branch of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library. The new Creativity Lab has four areas to encourage hands-on play: a “maker space” for everything from craft projects to writing simple computer code, moveable seating and tables for workshops and classes, a demonstration kitchen, and a production space equipped with a variety of tools for parents, teachers and older students. Best news is it’s all free!

Main Library Branch | 325 N Michigan St. | 419-259-5200