Program teaches ways to promote optimal development

First Steps is a statewide early intervention educational program that LifeSkills manages in the Barren River region. The program is designed to assist families with children up to 3 years old who have significant developmental delays or particular medical conditions known to cause developmental delays.

Parents should act immediately if they are concerned about their child's development, according to professionals at LifeSkills' First Steps program.

"Parents know their own children better than anyone else and should trust their instincts," said Keith Pawley, point of entry manager for First Steps. "If a parent feels their child is not developing as they should ? if they have worries ? they should call us or come in for an evaluation. No concern is too small, and time is of the essence. The longer we are able to work with the child and family, the more we can accomplish. It can make a tremendous difference in the child's future."

Pawley said parents do not need anyone's permission to call. When it comes to their child, he said, they are the experts.

Typically, children who participate in early intervention see significant improvement in development and learning. First Steps professionals also work closely with the parents and siblings of these children in an effort to build a supportive environment for the entire family.

Pawley said the numbers are up in our region.

"We've noticed about a 10 percent increase in the number of children we've worked with over the last five years," Pawley said. "We believe this is partly due to the fact that parents are becoming more educated and aware."

Early intervention focuses on helping babies and toddlers in five main areas:

motor skills (reaching, holding, rolling, crawling and walking).cognitive functioning (thinking, learning and problem solving).communication (talking, listening and understanding).social skills (interacting with others and playing).self-help (eating and dressing).

Seven First Steps service coordinators serve the 10-county region along with one district child evaluation specialist and one support person. These professionals work hard to provide services in each child's natural environment and often this includes the home, day care, a relative's house or even the park or playground ? whatever is most convenient.

"Although referrals to this program may come from doctors, nurses, social workers, day care professionals or other professionals, they can also come from relatives or friends," Pawley said. "First and foremost, we honor the parents' choices in everything we do. It is key that parents are significantly involved because ultimately our providers teach parents and family members how to build activities that promote optimal development into daily routines."

Parents who are worried about their child's development can visit the LifeSkills building at 380 Suwannee Trail off Lovers Lane for a free screening from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. No appointment is necessary, and parents do not have to bring the child to the initial meeting.

Parents will be asked to sign a screening consent form and fill out an "ages and stages" questionnaire. If those answers indicate areas of development that are not on target, a First Steps service coordinator will be assigned to the case.

An evaluation indicating significant delays in one of the five areas ? or minor delays in at least two of the areas ? is necessary for eligibility. There is no charge for evaluations. Each family situation is unique, so charges for actual services are determined on a case-by-case basis.

Call Alicia Sweeney at 270-901-5749 if you have any questions about this program or wish to make a referral. The toll-free number is 1-800-643-6233.

More information on Kentucky's First Steps program can be found online at kyfirststeps.org, where parents can also complete an online referral.

? Maureen Mahaney coordinates public information for LifeSkills Inc., a nonprofit behavioral health care corporation that plans for and serves the people of southcentral Kentucky in three main areas: mental health, addiction and intellectual disabilities. Her column appears monthly.