We mentioned before that HMG Central AL participated in a joint training for pediatricians interested in developmental screening with Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AL-AAP) and Reach Out and Read in Birmingham back in September. The training covered information about the need for more pediatricians to do developmental screening, how to incorporate developmental screening into a busy practice, how to use Help Me Grow to support children with challenges on their screenings or who need to be tracked for changes in their development.  There were seven practices trained which represented four out of five counties in the HMG CA footprint- Jefferson, Shelby, Blount, Walker and St. Clair. This was a great opportunity to expose local child health care providers to HMG, developmental screening and the process for AL-AAP’s Quality Improvement project. The training allowed for all of us to get to know one another, and explain how it fits with Reach Out and Read. The training received excellent feedback. Training and outreach to child health care providers is an important focus of HMG CA and we will be focusing our efforts to train office staff and more practices.  We have already delivered Ages and Stages Questionnaire and begun to ask about who else would be a leader practice in developmental screening. 

Anyone in Jefferson, Blount, Shelby, St. Clair, or Walker counties can simply dial 2-1-1 and get connected to HMG. It’s important that health care providers know what HMG is and how it works so they can connect children and families to the services they need with one simple phone call.