Early Screening Matters, Escambia!

By Annette Zeeb

Dr. Paul Dworkin, child development expert and founder of Help Me Grow, was in Pensacola on May 21-22 meeting with business and government leaders, faith-based leaders, and the community. His topic of discussion was “A Call to Action.”

Dworkin says that early developmental screenings and detection are integral to the best possible outcome for a child. The key to early detection is making sure that parents, caregivers, childcare providers, and the whole network of adults who work with young children all know what to look for and have a common tool to use to check for it.

A child’s brain undergoes an amazing period of development from womb to age 3. Stimulation and experiences for the first three years cannot be made up. An average of 30 percent of children are at risk of developmental delays; however, if these delays are detected and treated early, the children can move to a healthy development trajectory. There is a gap between early detection and programs’ central point of entry.

Faith-based and community organizations are vital to connecting families with resources. Their greatest asset is trust with families. Pastor David Alexander III stressed the importance of spending time with individuals and families, showing you care, and supporting them along the way, which builds the trust necessary to connect the individuals with resources to improve the development of their children. “Trust moves change quicker than money,” according to Pastor Alexander.

Whether you are a concerned citizen, business leader, educator, or community volunteer, please consider donating your time, talents, or treasure to help make a difference in the lives of every child, from cradle to career. For information about meeting times and locations, email Kimberly Krupa at director@achieveescambia.org or call 850-912-8177.


Dr. Paul Dworkin, child development expert and founder of Help Me Grow, was in Pensacola on May 21-22 meeting with business and government leaders, faith-based leaders, and the community.