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CBOs, Schools & School Districts

Community-Based Organizations, Schools & School Districts

 Screenings available in Monroe County & Finger Lakes region

CBO & District
GROW is enabled by contributions from community partners including direct screening partners, funders, subject matter experts, and suppliers.  

Rochester’s Child (2015) – model development/screening for 3-year-olds in city of Rochester

New York State Education Dept (2015) – screening and monitoring

United Way (2016) – screening and monitoring

City of Rochester (2016) – screening and monitoring for City of Rochester children

Greater Rochester Health Foundation (2016) – Model development/screening and monitoring for 3-year-olds in city of Rochester

MVP Healthcare (2018) – Tier 1 reimbursement for 3-year-olds in Rochester

Rochester Area Community Foundation (2019) – screening and monitoring

Rochester Area Community Foundation – Purcell Fund (2020) – screening and monitoring

Finger Lakes Performing Provider System (2019) – Bus, marketing, COMET expansion development

Accountable Health Partners/Excellus (2019) – Tier 1 reimbursement for 2- & 3-year-olds in Rochester

NYS B5 - Council for Children and Families (2020) – screening & monitoring/ expansion of age range to 1-5 years old/marketing/technology development

Finger Lakes Performing Provider System (2021) – Expand geographical area for GROW – Wayne, Stueben, Chemung and Yates Counties added/program model documentation

Florence M. Muller Foundation (2021)  – funding for virtual screening kits during COVID

United Health Care (2021) – Funding for screening and RAPP groups – social emotional support focus

Farash Foundation (2022) – screening and monitoring

Docs for Tots - Help Me Grow NYS (2024) – screening and monitoring

University of Rochester Medical Center (2024) – Funding to screen all RCSD EPK/UPK children in community-based organizations
 

GROW is a community initiative partnering across education, health, and human services
  • Available GROW screenings include vision, hearing, dental, speech & language, motor, social emotional competence, cognitive functioning and physical development.  These screenings can go beyond what some healthcare providers are able to address during a standard well-child visit.
  • Get Ready to GROW creates a 360-degree view of a child’s development, supported by a navigator that connects parents, schools, childcare and practices.
  • GROW screenings are quick, easy and fun for children. They offer a holistic view of a child’s developmental progress to help identify specific and actionable steps to get them back on THEIR track.
  • The Get Ready to GROW screening model can be integrated into your childcare program or school(s) and create a closed-loop referral process to help prevent the children and families from fall through the cracks.
 
Get Ready to GROW helps families to discover an opportunity to let their child’s greatness grow. 
Testimonials from families who’ve experienced the impact GROW screenings can have on a child’s development
  • “My initial thought when I found out that Gabby did not pass her vision screening was worry and fear that my daughter would have damaged eyesight for life. The eye exam by the eye doctor helped pinpoint exactly what was wrong with Gabby's vision. I did not know that she had an astigmatism and that she needed glasses to correct it. When she wears her glasses, her behavior seems to be more focused, now she does not need to sit so close to the television, and she seems more interested in schoolwork. I am very thankful for the Early Vision Screening program. Without it my daughter's vision would not have been corrected.”
  • Leah* is an active three-year-old who loves preschool. Her mom reported that she sometimes did not pay attention when she was told to do something. Mom thought it was a behavior issue and that she needed to be disciplined. After being screened by GROW at her preschool, it was discovered that Leah had a potential hearing issue that needed further testing by a specialist. The doctor found the issue and Leah had tubes put in both ears. Her mom told the preschool that she had no idea that her daughter had trouble hearing and was grateful that it was diagnosed and treated quickly. 
               *Name has been changed.
  • "I don't know if I could have paid for the testing, so it was great that GROW could give my son a free screening."

Simple Steps to Becoming a GROW Partner!

GROW welcomes the opportunity to work with community-based organizations (CBOs), schools and school districts on becoming a partnering site where GROW screenings can be provided.  

Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) Partnering Guidelines

GROW Services & Responsibilities:
  • The GROW leadership team for the appropriate participating county meets with the potential site to discuss GROW's developmental screening opportunities in the areas of vision, hearing, dental, speech & language, motor, social emotional competence, cognitive functioning and physical development. 
  • The Children's Institute's GROW team, the managing entity, will review the services requested and workflow.  Funding must also be confirmed to proceed with the planning and providing of GROW screenings.
  • Once the partnership is established and a signed agreement's been received by the managing entity, a member of the appropriate GROW county team will collaborate with the site's designated GROW liaison to provide introduction materials which include but aren't limited to parent informational flyers and the GROW electronic consent's QR code.  
  • Each child with a completed and signed consent is eligible to be screened.
  • A GROW screener(s) will work with the site's GROW liaison regarding consent submissions, scheduling screenings sessions and any necessary follow-up.
  • A GROW screener(s) will provide the site's GROW liaison with a summary of each classroom's screening results.  
  • A GROW screener(s) will provide screening results for the child's family on the day the screening(s) is completed or once a classroom's screenings have been completed.  Resources on developmental milestones and tips for appropriate home activities to support a child’s development are also provided to the families.
  • A GROW navigator from the appropriate county will be assigned to support the site's GROW liaison and families with navigating the next steps needed for those children being referred for further evaluations or services.  Screening results for these children will also be forwarded to the medical provider identified on the child's consent.  
  • The assigned GROW navigator will communicate regularly with the site's GROW liaison to discuss screening outcomes and receive status updates for those children referred for further evaluations or services.
     

 

CBO Partner Agreement & Responsibilities:
  • The site will designate a team member as their GROW liaison and provide the liaison’s contact information to the appropriate GROW county team. This GROW team must also be notified when the designated liaison has been changed.
  • The site will discuss and promote GROW's screening opportunities to their families and distribute GROW's electronic consent’s QR code or paper consents to them.
  • All completed paper consents must be collected by the site at least one (1) week before the scheduled screening date to ensure all areas are accurately completed, signed, & dated by a parent or guardian.
  • The site's GROW liaison will respond in a timely manner to all GROW correspondences, emails, phone calls, etc.
  • The site's GROW liaison will communicate regularly with their assigned GROW navigator to discuss screening outcomes and provide status updates for those children referred for further evaluations or services.
  • The site will provide GROW screener(s) with an appropriate space for screenings.
  • The site's GROW liaison will share each of the classroom's screening results with the appropriate classroom teacher.
  • The site will provide the screening results to each child’s family on the day they receive them from the GROW screener(s).
  • The site will notify their assigned GROW navigator of families requiring assistance with the next steps needed for those children referred for further evaluation(s) or service(s).
  • The site's GROW liaison will follow up with the families of those children referred for further evaluation(s) or service(s) until an appointment for the evaluation(s) or service(s) has been confirmed, the evaluation(s) has been completed, a service(s) has started, or if the family’s decided not to pursue the recommended evaluation(s) or service(s).
     

 

If you provide care for children ages 1-5 years, consider partnering with Get Ready to GROW!  
For more information contact us at: 

 

SCHOOL & DISTRICT GUIDELINES

Get Ready to GROW Services & Responsibilities:
  • The GROW leadership team for the appropriate participating county will meet with the potential district to discuss GROW's developmental screening opportunities in the areas of vision, hearing, dental, speech & language, motor, social emotional competence, cognitive functioning and physical development.
  • The Children's Institute's GROW team, the managing entity, will review the services requested and workflow.  Funding must also be confirmed to proceed with the planning and providing of GROW screenings.   
  • Once the partnership is established and a signed agreement's been received by the managing entity, a member of the appropriate GROW county team will collaborate with the school's or district's designated representative(s) to provide introduction materials which include but aren't limited to parent informational flyers and the GROW electronic consent's QR code.
  • GROW will work with the school or district representative(s) regarding logistics and for reporting purposes.
  • GROW will support the creation of real time COMET data reports as needed for parents, and the school or district representative(s). GROW will document and track in COMET those children referred for further evaluation(s) and service(s).
  • All GROW screeners will be fingerprinted and documented through the NYSED system.
  • GROW will provide the agreed upon developmental screening(s) for each child at no cost to the families.
  • GROW will provide the school or district representative(s) with paper consents or the electronic consent’s QR code for distribution to families.
  • GROW will work with the school or district representative(s) regarding consent submissions, scheduling screening sessions and any necessary follow-up.
  • GROW screener(s) will provide screening results for the child’s family on the day the screening(s) is completed or the classroom’s screenings have been completed. They'll also provide families with resources on developmental milestones and tips for appropriate home activities to support a child’s development.
  • A GROW navigator from the appropriate county will be assigned to support the school or district representative(s) as needed with navigating the next steps for those children referred for further evaluation(s) or service(s).
  • The assigned GROW navigator will provide the school or district representative(s) with a final summary of all screening results once they've been completed.
  • Within the agreed upon number of days following the screening(s), the assigned GROW Navigator will contact those families whose child was recommended for further evaluation(s) or service(s).  The Navigator will review the results with the family, encourage them in taking the recommended next steps, and offer to assist with those steps when needed.

 

School District Partner Agreement & Responsibilities:
  • The school district will designate a team member(s) as their GROW designated district representative(s) and provide the representative's contact information to the appropriate GROW county team. This GROW team must also be notified when the designated district representative(s) changes.
  • In collaboration with GROW, the district will define a data sharing system for screening results, rescreens, and documentation of closed cases.
  • The district representative(s) will communicate all GROW screening opportunities to their families and distribute GROW's electronic consent’s QR code or paper consents to them.
  • When a paper consent is received by the district, the representative(s) will ensure it is completed, signed, & dated by a parent or guardian.
  • When a paper consent is received by the district representative(s), he/she will provide GROW with the student’s information including but is not limited to the student’s name, date of birth, primary language spoken, any developmental areas the child's been previously evaluated for or if the child's is currently receiving any services.
  • The district will provide GROW screener(s) with an appropriate space for screenings.
  • The district representative(s) will respond in a timely manner to all GROW correspondences, emails, phone calls, etc.
  • The district will share each GROW screening classroom summary received with the appropriate classroom teacher when applicable.
  • The district will provide the GROW screening results to each child’s family on the day they receive them from the GROW screener(s).
  • The district representative(s) will notify their assigned GROW navigator of families requiring assistance with the next steps needed for those children referred for further evaluation(s) or service(s).
  • The district leadership team or the delegated representative(s) will provide feedback and information to contribute to GROW’s continuous improvement process. 

 

If your district is interested in partnering with Get Ready to GROW, or would like to request additional information, please contact us at: