Child Connect for Family Success

Lansing, Mich.
March 5, 2012 - The Michigan Department of Human Services today launched a new statewide program for reporting abuse and neglect complaints involving both children and adults.

Central Intake replaces the former system, where calls would go to individual DHS county offices. In the new program, one toll-free number,
1-855-444-3911, is available to everyone, including mandatory reporters (teachers, physicians, law enforcement, etc.) and the general public.
The number is answered quickly, 24 hours a day, seven days a week (including holidays) by trained professionals at the new Central Intake call center in Kent County, where a successful six-county pilot program has been running since September 2011.

Despite expert recommendations, just 57 percent of parents in a 2004 study said that their toddlers received a developmental screening within the past year. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children should receive seven pediatric visits with age-appropriate physical and developmental screenings in their first year, and 12 in their first three years. During those recommended visits, the use of valid screening tools can catch developmental concerns like cognitive delays, hearing and vision problems, or problems with physical health and development.

Because many babies and toddlers not currently receiving comprehensive screenings can be reached through their child care settings, CLASP has released a new resource on promoting access to comprehensive screenings. Promote Access to Early, Regular and Comprehensive Screenings is part of CLASP’s “Charting Progress for Babies in Child Care” project, an ongoing effort by CLASP to link research to policy ideas to help states make the best decisions for infants and toddlers in child care. This latest resource provides research documenting the importance of screening, policy recommendations states can consider to improve their screening rates for infants and toddlers, and additional online resources.

Child Connect for FamilySuccess is pleased to announce that our agency has been asked to be the localendorser of the National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) by the USDepartment of Health and Human Services. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded a contract to NORC at the University of Chicago toconduct the NSECE. This study is the first comprehensive portrait of theavailability of early care and education in more than 20 years. NORC will
conduct four large, nationally representative surveys: households with childrenunder 13, home-based care providers, center-based care providers, and those inthe center-based provider workforce. The information collected in this study
will be an important foundation in building state and national knowledge of critical considerations and decisions families encounter in finding care. Results of the NSECE will inform the development of child
care and early childhood education policies.

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is looking for community sponsors to run summer food programs to prevent more than 552,000 children in Michigan from going hungry when school lunchrooms close for the summer.

The Summer Food Service Program could fill the summer hunger gap for hundreds of thousands of children if more sponsors are signed up to run the food program. Last year, out of the over 552,000 low-income Michigan children who were eligible, only around 85,000 (15 percent) were served the free meals or snacks at approved summer meal sites in their neighborhoods.

The Livingston County Homeless   Continuum of Care’s (HCCC) Fifth Annual Community Connect is coming   soon!  The event will be held January 28, 2012, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at a NEW LOCATION:   ParkerMiddle School in Howell,   400 Wright   Road, 48843.

 

Community Connect is a one-day   event to help Livingston County residents that are having trouble meeting   their needs connect with the services in a friendly, easy to access location.   Individuals can connect to over 40 organizations that can offer information   and services such as housing assistance, health screenings, legal   consultation, food services, haircuts, massages, clothing and other personal   need items. Lunch and on-site professional childcare is also provided at no   cost to participants. No registration is required for guests to attend Community   Connect. For more information you   can contact 211.