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Jefferson
Memorial Hospital has developed a partnership with
the Birth to Three Program offered through the West Virginia
Department of Health and Human Services. The program is designed
to assess and assist children who may be developing slowly
and is available free of charge to any resident of Jefferson
County. . |
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Children
who are at risk for developmental delays may show
signs of slow development in cooing, babbling, word imitation
of adults, language development, tracking movement and color
in their environment. They may also be slow to roll over,
crawl, and take first steps alone. They may be slow to be
able to pick up and manipulate toy objects. |
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If
a parent suspects that a child is at risk for delayed
development, the first step is to consult the child's physician.
If a developmental delay is suspected, the physician can make
a referral to the Jefferson County Birth to Three Program
offered by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human
Resources, Bureau for Public Health, Office of Maternal, Child
and Family Health. |
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Upon
the referral, Jefferson Memorial Hospital's team of
nationally certified speech pathologists, physical therapists
and occupational therapists evaluate the child and work with
the parents to assess possible delays in speech, language,
feeding, cognitive, and physical development. If additional
assessments are needed, the Jefferson County Birth to Three
Program Coordinator will work with Jefferson Memorial Hospital
to provide audiologists, counselors, social workers, child
development specialists, nurses, registered dieticians and
vision specialists. |
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Once the assessment is completed,
the hospital's health care team will help the family decide
what strategies and services are needed. A program of
support will be structured to help the parents work with
the child in a natural environment. Usually this means
helping them in the home to identify everyday activities
that are comfortable to both parents and the child. Sometimes,
this can be accomplished in special environments outside
the home if convenient and appropriate.
For more information contact:
Program Coordinator
Jefferson County
Birth-to-Three Program
(304)728-0933.
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