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Watch Me Grow Early Childhood Resources
Local and low-cost or free!
Family Support & Resource Centers
The Family Support & Resource Centers (FSRC) are located throughout Hillsborough County in Town ‘N Country, Brandon, North Tampa/ University area, and Ruskin to meet the needs of families from all walks of life. All programs and services at the Centers are free of charge to any family or individual. To learn more about the Family Support & Resource Centers, visit www.familysupporthc.org, or to contact Brandon FSRC (813)740-4634, North Tampa FSRC (813)558-1877, Town & Country FSRC (813)356-1703, Ruskin FSRC (813)641-5600, Central Tampa FSRC (813) 204-1741, or Plant City FSRC (813) 764-0694.
Florida KidCare
KidCare is free or low-cost health insurance available for children. Florida KidCare and Healthy Kids insure children age birth to eighteen. KidCare health insurance includes medical, dental, prescription, vision, and more. To learn more about Florida KidCare visit www.floridakidcare.org or call 1-888-540-KIDS.
Baby Bungalow
Baby Bungalow focuses on children’s needs from birth to age five. New and experienced parents benefit from a wide variety of classes for both parent and child, support groups, information and enrichment activities. Baby Bungalow services include developmental playgroups, baby sign language, parent support groups, infant massage, child development workshops, infant and child CPR classes, RIE-based parenting courses, and music classes. To learn more about Baby Bungalow, visit www.babybungalow.org, or call (813) 356-1293.
Parents as Teachers (PAT)
PAT is a home visiting child development program that promotes school readiness. It is based on the belief that the parent is the child’s first and most influential teacher. Parents are empowered to work directly with their children to help them develop to their fullest potential. There are no criteria or assessments required to become a PAT family. It is an "any baby, any family" service. To learn more about PAT call (813) 356-1293.
Fathers Resource and Networking Center (FRANC)
FRANC serves as a community-wide hub for fatherhood programs, activities and services. The mission of FRANC is to make available resources, support, information and education to enable dads to address the challenges and celebrate the joys of positive fathering and involvement with their children. FRANC services are for all dads... married, single, divorced, foster, surrogate, expectant and mentors. To learn more about FRANC call (813) 356-1293.
Child Care Resource and Referral
Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) gives FREE personalized listings of child care and consumer information to any parent or guardian. CCR&R maintains a database of legally operating child care providers in the county. This service is available to all families, child care providers, and businesses in Hillsborough County. To learn more about CCR&R call (813) 744-8941.
MomCare
If you are pregnant, you may qualify for this special health insurance program. MomCare provides women seeking coverage for their pregnancy a simplified application process. Once accepted into the program clients will receive guidance selecting a prenatal care provider, assistance scheduling initial prenatal visits, and information about state programs for which they may be eligible. To learn more about MomCare call (813) 233-2964.
2-1-1 Tampa Bay
For information about other programs in Hillsborough County and for quick access to human service information and referral call 2-1-1! 211 Tampa Bay offers a convenient way to call for help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Screening Terminology
Understanding screening lingo makes it easier for you to choose the best screening tool for your program
cutoff point
The score that indicates when a child’s development is a concern and referral for further assessment may be appropriate. The cutoff point is empirically derived by standardizing the tool with large numbers of children.
developmental delay
A child who is not developing skills at the expected age (even after consideration for broad differences among individual children) is considered to have a developmental delay. Some children with developmental delays may catch up with their typically developing peers, whereas others may persist in having a developmental disability.
early intervention
Services for infants and toddlers that are designed to identify and treat a problem or delay as early as possible. The services may be offered in a variety of settings—home, clinic, doctor’s office, center—and involve a variety of professionals.
medical home
In a medical home approach to care, the pediatrician partners with the child's family to meet the medical (and non-medical) needs of the child. The pediatrician helps families use and coordinate specialty care and services that are important to the health and well-being of the child.
monitoring
Periodic developmental screening of young children to catch delays that may not be evident in a single screening.
overreferral (or overidentification)
The proportion of children incorrectly identified by a screening tool as in need of further assessment. (This proportion is determined by the results of subsequent in-depth assessments of referred children.)
positive predictive value
The proportion of children identified by a screening tool as needing further assessment who will, in fact, have intervention needs.
psychometrics
The validity, reliability, and utility of a screening tool (or other assessment instrument) determined through research on the tool.
screening
A brief assessment designed to identify children who may have delays and should be referred for more in-depth assessment. Screening does not lead to a diagnosis; it simply identifies children who may not be developing typically and may need extra attention.
surveillance
An ongoing process of monitoring a child's development. Professionals conducting surveillance typically gather information about the child’s development and behavior from multiple sources, including direct observation.
underreferral (or underidentification)
The proportion of children incorrectly identified as developing typically by the screening tool.
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