Early Childhood Services and Supports
The Butler County Board of DD provides services to the young children in our county in partnership with Help Me Grow and the local school districts. Butler County DD is a service provider to families whose children have been deemed eligible through the Help Me Grow System under the Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Early Intervention Services. Once a child has been deemed eligible for services under the Part C guidelines of IDEA, Help Me Grow will help the family to access a variety of services available through the Butler County Board of DD currently at no cost to the citizens of this county. The services are funded by local tax dollars. We believe that young children are best served in their natural environments such as the home, day care, or other places where the family may spend time. Every family is given the opportunity to learn to help their child grow and develop so the child is ready to enter his own neighborhood school. Butler County DD is very proud of collaborating with Help Me Grow and our Butler County School Districts to ensure quality services for your child.
Early Intervention Services
Families enter Butler County DD Early Intervention Services by contacting Help Me Grow at (513) 785-6850 and asking for someone to come to their home to determine if their child is eligible for services. To be eligible for Early Intervention Part C services the child must be showing a delay in one of these areas of concern: problem solving, social skills, motor skills, communication skills, self-help skills, or behavioral/emotional skills, and/or may have a medical condition that adversely effects the child's growth and development. On your initial visit an "intake team" representing Help Me Grow and Butler County DD will evaluate your child to determine if he/she qualifies for services. If your child is eligible but not showing any developmental delays, Help Me Grow will continue to support your child and family. If your child is determined eligible and exhibits a developmental delay then Help Me Grow and Butler County DD will work collaboratively to meet the needs of your child and family until his third birthday.
Preschool Services
The Butler County Board of DD Early Intervention Department works cooperatively with School Districts to make sure that any child turning three and preparing to transition to their local school district with special needs is given the opportunity to succeed. Pertinent information is shared with your school district, and parents are supported by the Early Intervention Staff to build a relationship with the school district. Butler County School Districts follow the Ohio Department of Education guidelines in determining Preschool eligibility. For information about Preschool Services contact your local school district of Help Me Grow at (513) 785-6850. Butler County DD will support preschool-eligible children upon entry into their school district with Family Focus (support for the child's behaviors in the home), Support Coordination (facilitation of services that your child may need to be a member of his community, home and school), and Family Resource Money (to supplement needed services and supplies.) Butler County Board of DD financially supplements each of the 10 school districts in Butler County.
For more information about the Early Childhood Services and Supports, contact Mary May, Educational Supervisor for Early Childhood/Early Intervention, (513) 867-5960, or email.
