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Make a Referral

Why Refer a Child

Every child develops at their own pace, but sometimes parents, caregivers, or professionals may have questions about a child’s development, behavior, learning, or social-emotional growth. Referring a child to Help Me Grow Merced County provides families with access to a free developmental screening and referrals to community resources and services tailored to their child’s unique needs.

Early identification of developmental concerns can lead to timely intervention and better outcomes. Even if a child is developing as expected, a referral to Help Me Grow Merced County can provide families with reassurance, guidance, and valuable information to support their child’s healthy growth and development.

When to Refer a Child

A referral to Help Me Grow Merced County can be made whenever there are questions or concerns about a child’s development, behavior, learning, or social-emotional well-being. You do not need to wait for a diagnosis or significant delay to seek support.

Consider referring a child if:

• Developmental milestones are not being met.
• There are concerns about speech, language, motor, cognitive, or social-emotional development.
• Parents and caregivers express concerns about their child’s growth or behavior.
• A healthcare provider, educator, or caregiver recommends further developmental screening.
• A family could benefit from community resources, developmental information, or additional support.
• Parents and caregivers would like to better understand their child’s developmental milestone progress.

Early identification and intervention can help children receive the services and support they need during the most important years of development. It also provides parents and caregivers with valuable insights on the child’s developmental milestones and assists with tracking their growth.

What to Expect

After we receive your referral, Help Me Grow Merced County will contact your family within three business days to complete a phone intake and assign you a dedicated Case Manager.

Your Case Manager will schedule a meeting at a location that works best for your family, such as:

• The EPU Merced Office
• A local library, school, or community center

After your child’s developmental screening, your Case Manager will:

• Review the results with you and provide a copy of the screening
• Connect your family with community resources, schools, or the Regional Center, if needed
• Refer you to EPU parent education and support services, if appropriate
• Share activities you can do at home to support your child’s development