Help Me Grow

A program for expectant parents, newborns, infants and toddlers that provides health and developmental services so children start school ready to learn.

Services are provided at no charge to families. You decide which services you want, where you want them and when.

Help Me Grow Offers…

• Links to community resources and services

• Screenings for developmental delays provided to families at no charge

• Home Visiting: 

  • A visit with you and your newborn provided by a registered nurse

  • Ongoing visits for support and information about your infant or toddler’s immunization, nutrition, and development

  • Ongoing needs

• Answers to questions about your infant or toddler’s health and well-being

• Family support groups and parent-to-parent links

Partnerships for Success

For every $1 invested by the State of Ohio in PfS, so far a 600% return on investment has been realized for counties in the sustainability phase of the process.

• Clark County has involved hundreds of community members to prioritize substance abuse, delinquency, and teen mental health and well-being as target areas that emphasize positive youth development.  The PfS Grant will support evidence-based programs that reduce alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use by youth participants, lower youth delinquency, and/or increase positive mental health and well-being in our youth.

Ohio Children's Trust Fund

The Clark County Commission has designated Clark County Family & Children First Council as the local advisory board for the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund which offers grants to local organizations to help prevent child abuse and neglect. The following organizations are the current grant receipts.

• Springfield Peace Center
  Peace Camp:
  This is a free, one week conflict management camp that takes place in the summer for 225 youths. A parent support group operates the same week. A mediation training program prepares area teens to use those skills in their schools.

• Mercy Parent-Infant Center
  Toddler Loving Care Support Group:
  This support group for parents of toddler addresses the needs of children and discusses issues presented by parents. Activities and snacks are provided for the children.  Mentoring services are available for parents.

• Mental Health Services, Inc.
  Parents and Children Together:
  Purpose is to help prevent child abuse and neglect by teaching parents positive discipline techniques, communication skills and improved understanding of developmental stages of children.

• Clark County Combined Health District
  Newborn Home Visits:
  Provides home visits to teen parents and first time parents to offer guidance in child care, answer questions and to assess any at-risk factors of the parents, the home and the child.

Service Coordination

• Clark County's Service Coordination Mechanism is a document that provides guidance regarding the coordination of services to children and families in the county that are provided primarily by the public agencies in partnership with private agencies and community organizations and individuals. Members of the Family and Children First Council develop the Service Coordination Mechanism.

• Families receiving services from county agencies may work with those agencies to develop a comprehensive family service coordination plan that: designates responsibilities; designates a leader; ensures services are responsive to family strengths, needs and culture; includes timelines for goals and reviews; and includes plans for crises and safety.