Children 1st

Families
Have you ever wondered...
Why isn't my baby crawling? Why doesn't he or she follow moving objects with their eyes? Why doesn't my baby roll over? Why doesn't he or she imitate actions or words? Why does my child seem to ignore me? Why can't I understand what my child is saying? If you have any concerns about your child's growth and development, call your pediatrician to schedule an appointment or contact Children 1st.
What can I expect after a referral?
Children 1st staff will contact you to schedule a developmental screening.
How do I reach Children 1st?
To find your local office, please call 800-300-9003 or visit dph.georgia.gov/children1st to learn more about the program.
growth learning & development

Children 1st
800-300-9003
Insert district sticker here.
dph.georgia.gov/children1st
February 2021

Children st

What is Children 1st?
Children 1st provides screening to identify children birth to 5-years of age, at risk for poor growth and learning.
Children 1st is the single point of entry to services for children in public health.
Why is Children 1st important?
Children develop rapidly during their early years, and each child is unique and will progress at his or her own pace. Children 1st identifies services that will support the development of children in Georgia before they enter school at age 5.

List of services
Identify children at risk for poor growth & learning Developmental screenings and assessments
administered in-home, by phone or at the health department Referral and connection to:
Babies Can't Wait (BCW) Children's Medical Services (CMS) Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) 1st Care Home Visiting Community resources
Is there a cost for services?
There is no cost for services provided by Children 1st.

Providers
Who is eligible?
Children 1st is available for children birth to 5 years of age who have: A suspected speech, physical or other
developmental delay Three or more social or environmental risk factors A chronic medical condition impacting development
or requiring care coordination Visit dph.georgia.gov/children1st for a detailed list of risk factors.
How can I make a referral?
Contact your local Children 1st office: 1. Visit dph.georgia.gov/children1st to download and
complete the Children 1st screening and referral form 2. Click "Service Locator" on the Children 1st webpage and select the child's county of residence, mark the box next to Children 1st and click search for a list of locations 3. Attach any supporting documents, including: Child's hospital discharge summary Developmental screening results Medical records summary Chidren 1st screening and referral form 4. Send the completed screening and referral form and all supporting documents to the local Children 1st coordinator 5. Call your local Children 1st coordinator to submit a referral by phone
Visit our website to learn more about eligible
conditions for Children 1st and other Maternal and Child
Health programs.
dph.georgia.gov/children1st