Forums on Healthy Development
-Community Education for Belmont County
-Belmont County Health Department:
-Know the signs. Act Early: This site has a list of developmental milestones, along with fact sheets and video resources on developmental delays and autism.
-American Academy of Pediatrics’ Healthy Child Care America
-American Academy of Pediatrics Health Topics: This is a resource that runs the gamut on children’s health issues. From acne to wheezing, you can gain evidence-based tools for kids ages birth-21.
-Kids Health Library: Run through Akron Children’s Hospital, this site offers practical advice for parents, along with opportunities for children and teens to better understand the importance of healthy choices.
-Bright Futures: Bright Futures is a national health promotion initiative dedicated to the principle that every child deserves to be healthy and that optimal health involves a trusting relationship between the health professional, the child, the family, and the community as partners in health practice.
-First Signs: First Signs is dedicated to educating parents and professionals about the early warning signs of autism and related disorders.
-The National Center for Medical Homes: Uncovering medical problems is substantially easier when you know a doctor who knows you back. This site explains what a medical home is, what it’s so important, and how you can find one where you live.
State Links:
These are links that impact every Ohioan. You can find state resources, along with access to local agencies that provide services in your hometown.
-Ohio Help Me Grow: This agency focuses on the health and development of children 0-3. Parent resource guides, checklists, and toolkits are a click away, along with phone numbers from the HMG in your county.
-Ohio Department of Education's Student with Disabilities Program: Children 3 and up are referred to educational agencies for support services. This is a good starting point.
-Step Up To Quality Child Care Program: Not every child care center is the same. This site lets you know what to look for in a child care setting, and where to find the highest ranked facilities where you live.
-Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence: If you have a child with autism, this is one of the first places you need to visit. There are manuals on how to deal with a diagnosis, where to find services, and how to manage short and long-term challenges.
-State Support Teams: The 16 State Support Teams are responsible for the regional delivery of school improvement, literacy, special education compliance, and early learning and school readiness services to districts.
-Ohio MRDD: This links to a family resource guide for families who have a child with a disability. You can find parental support groups, early intervention options, and handbooks.
-Ohio Department of Job and Family Services:
-Interagency Autism Workgroup: Governor Strickland created an interagency work group to tackle autism related issues. This links to you their recommendations and offers an opportunity for feedback
-Ohio License web site: A list of various licenses for practices across Ohio.
-Ohio Association for Infant Mental Health: This site has a list of mental health professionals and networks across Ohio.
-Ohio Speech Language Hearing Association: A complete list of speech, language, and hearing experts organized by county.
-Ohio Occupational Therapy Association:
-Ohio Physical Therapists Association: There’s a search engine to help find a physical therapist where you live.
-Applied Behavior Analysis, Ohio provider listings:
AUTISM SPECIFIC LINKS
-The Autism Society of Ohio: Evidence suggest parent support groups are essential for families living with children on the autism spectrum. This site will connect you with local support groups and resources.
-The First 100 Days Kit: The Autism Speaks 100 Day Kit is created specifically for newly diagnosed families, to make the best possible use of the 100 days following the diagnosis of autism.
-Ohio Parent’s Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders:
-American Academy of Pediatrics: There are video clips, evidence-based data on vaccines, and easy to understand fact sheets.
-National Institute of Child Health & Human Development:
-CDC’s National Immunization Program: “Vaccines and Autism”:
-Organization for Autism Research:
-Autism Speaks: A leading national organization that updates state and federal efforts to combat autism, offers national toolkits, and daily updates.
rn the Signs. Act Early.
Other Developmental Delays
-National Institute of Mental Health:
-State Health Insurance Program (SCHIP):
-National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) :
-The Arc of the United States:
-National Down Syndrome Society:
-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program:
-American Academy of Audiology:
-American Speech-Language-Hearing Association:
-National Federation of the Blind:
-American Council of the Blind:
-American Foundation for the Blind:
Parenting Resources
-Ohio Help Me Grow Parenting Index:
-Incredible Years: “An award winning parent training, teacher training, and child social skills training approaches have been selected by the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention as an "exemplary" best practice program and as a "Blueprints" program.”
-Center for Evidence-Based Practice: Young Children with Challenging Behavior: