All referrals for children birth to age 3 are made through Help me Grow in conjunction with Paulding County Board of DD. The Paulding County Board of DD works in partnership with Help Me Grow, to provide developmental evaluations to children who have a suspected delay or who have a medical condition, which has a high probability of resulting in a developmental delay. Once Paulding County Board of DD evaluation team completes the assessment and determines your child is eligible for services, you are given options for supports. One of the many choices for parents is Early Intervention service through Paulding County Board of DD. Children without a medical diagnosis will have their eligibility re-determined annually. Children with a medical diagnosis will be re-determined by their third birthday.

Children age 3 to 5 are eligible for support if they have a significant delay in one area of development, or less significant delays in two developmental areas reported in the Multi-Factored Evaluation (MFE) or medical disorder that is known to cause delays. Children will have their eligibility re-determined at age 6 for continued services.

Children age 6 to 15 are eligible for Paulding County Board of DD services if they have a documented history of life- long developmental disability and significant functional limitations in at least three areas of the Children’s Ohio Eligibility Determination Instrument (COEDI). Areas evaluated; Self care, Mobility, Receptive and Expressive Language, Self Direction and Capacity for independent living, and Learning. Eligibility is re-determined at age 16 for continued services.