In April, Kennedy Krieger and Special Olympics Maryland launched the Child and Family Health Intervention pilot for children from birth to age seven. The pilot program was implemented at the Southeast Early Head Start Nursery and the Early Childhood Development and Education Center. The program featured three components: the Young Athletes Program, family health forums, and Healthy Young Athletes pediatric screenings.
The Young Athletes Program is a six-week motor skills course integrated into classroom activities at the two locations. The program encouraged participants to engage with peers, practice social skills and follow instructions. To reinforce learning, the program also extended into the home environment.
The family health forums consist of one-hour virtual sessions where parents can learn about the pilot program, local resources and strategies for common parenting challenges. Led by Kennedy Krieger experts, topics include:
- managing caregiver stress;
- Circle of Security;
- healthy eating and sleep habits; and
- information about Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
The pilot program concludes with the Healthy Young Athletes pediatric screening, a free event where children receive developmental assessments, physical exams, vitals checks and information reviews. The data received from the screening can be shared with the child’s primary care provider and used for school or summer activity registration.
As we move into the second year of the pilot program, we aim to expand our support for families by increasing participation, introducing additional topics in the family health forums, and hosting another Healthy Young Athletes pediatric screening. We look forward to continuing to make a positive impact on the health and well-being of the children and families we serve.
By Chris Mason-Hale, BSW, community advocate for Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD)
