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diggHelpline assists with child health concerns
Parents and family members have access to healthcare advise at their fingertips
HELPLINE ASSISTS WITH CHILD HEALTH CONCERNS
Parents and family members of young children have access to healthcare advice literally at their fingertips with the new Birth to Five Helpline, (877) 705-KIDS.
Formed by the Arizona Institute for Early Childhood Development, a division of Southwest Human Development, the helpline provides a complimentary resource to parents and professionals so they can receive telephone consultations, referral information and individualized child development information packets.
Callers will be assisted by early childhood development specialists, registered nurses, disabilities specialists, early literacy specialists and mental health counselors to respond to a wide array of issues. Bilingual specialists will be available to assist Spanish speakers.
Development director Laura Chasko hopes word will spread about this free service through a collaborative marketing campaign that may
include Spanish radio and television ads.
The helpline was created to answer questions ranging from how much formula a baby should be given to illness symptoms, but not to take the place of a doctor visit.
"We’re helping people understand they can be advocates for themselves," she says. "We strongly encourage them to call a pediatrician. It’s an OK thing to do."
For more information about Southwest Human Development visit www.swhd.org.
