Network connects families with local support

June 23--COLUMBUS -- Early intervention is pivotal in the lives of children showing signs of developmental delay.

The first few years are a window to address issues, and a longstanding program is working to assist area families in this process.

The Early Development Network connects families with community services to help children ages 0-3 receive support for their needs.

Jennifer Calahan is the services coordination supervisor for the network that covers the counties of Platte, Boone, Butler, Colfax, Merrick, Nance and Polk.

Although the program has been around for years, she said some families who could benefit from it may not know it exists.

A child can qualify if they are not developing normally or have health conditions affecting their development. Conditions that can lead to referrals to the program include prematurity, visual and hearing impairments, syndromes, cleft lip and palate, autism and undiagnosed delays in development such as speech.

"Our job is helping them get connected with intervention services," Calahan said.

The services, such as occupational, speech and physical therapy, are free and sought through school districts.

The first three years are the target age range for the program because that time frame is the most important for learning in a child's life.

Calahan said research has shown that neural pathways in the brain are still developing from the ages of 0-3 and formed by the time a child is kindergarten-age.

"If a child has a delay, we have an opportunity to have an impact while those neural pathways are still developing," she said.

Providing support and services early can improve a child's ability to learn and prevent or decrease the need for help later on.

According to a press release about the program, children rarely are able to do the same activity or hit the same milestones at the same age, so it is common for families to question or have concerns about a child's development. The website zerotothree.org provides developmental guidelines for parents.

For more information about Early Development Network or a child's development, call Calahan at 402-564-4497 or 800-564-2805 or email her at jcalahan@ecdhd.ne.gov.

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