Follow Along Program
Babies and toddlers grow and learn at their own rate. Some children need extra help to grow up healthy and to learn skills such as sitting, walking, or talking. The Olmsted County Follow Along Program can help you to find out if your child needs additional help.
What is the Follow Along Program?
It is a program at no cost to you to help you learn about your child’s health and development. The program helps you find out if your child is hearing, moving, seeing, playing, talking, learning, growing, and acting normally as your child reaches different ages.
Who is eligible?
Families in Olmsted County who have children newborn to three years old.
How does the program work?
A Follow Along nurse may visit with you to tell you more about the program and find out more about your child. You will be asked to sign a permission form.
- Questionnaires are mailed to you at your child’s different ages. Each questionnaire asks how your child is growing, playing, talking, moving and acting.
- Sheets with fun activities for you to do with your child and other age appropriate items are also mailed.
- The questionnaire results will be shared with you. If there are any concerns, the Follow
- Along nurse will contact you with options for further evaluation or early help services.
- After your child is 36 months old, you will receive information about the next step, Early Childhood Screening.
How do I sign up?
Contact the Olmsted County Follow Along Program at Olmsted County Public Health Services. Parents may also enroll their child by requesting a free home visit from a nurse.
Email questions to healthweb@co.olmsted.mn.us
A child’s early years often bring wonder and excitement for families. Find out more about how young children grow and learn, and what parents can do to support their child’s learning at Minnesota Help Me Grow. Free help is available for eligible children.