Developmental TIPS: An invitation to you and your baby We would like to invite you and your baby to participate in Developmental TIPS, a program that provides free specialized developmental follow-up once your baby is at home, at no cost to you. Take some time to explore the information provided here to learn more about how this program will help you and your baby.

What is Developmental TIPS? Understanding Corrected Age… click here to view

Why should my baby participate? …two important reasons: 1. Your baby was admitted to the NICU for several days or more. This means your baby’s condition was serious enough at birth that health and development should be monitored more closely than most infants. 2. Concerns addressed early often can be resolved much more satisfactorily than those that remain unresolved until later in life. Sometimes it can be reassuring just to hear that your baby is doing fine. Developmental TIPS can help to monitor your baby’s development through regular developmental follow-up once you get home.

Why is follow-up important? Early experience plays a crucial role in young children’s brain development. Early identification of developmental problems and participation in early intervention programs maximizes positive outcomes for children. Developmental TIPS has served as a resource to children and families for over 10 years. Early Development Network (Nebraska)Early Development Network (Nebraska) and Early Access (Iowa) are the early intervention services in our area.Early Access (Iowa)

Parent Testimonial Though she was at higher medical risk (26 weeks gestational age and two pounds, one ounce) than her four pound premature brother, Meah has had better developmental outcomes. Because of TIPS her needs for developmental services were identified earlier. At just 16 months of age, she was referred to Omaha Public Schools for speech therapy. [Sharon, her mother says: “It’s amazing how far she’s come, I can really see the difference between her and her brother. There was a lot more support with her than with him.”] Want to know more about TIPS… here is a recently published article, Big Lessons from Little Ones. Big Lessons from Little Ones Preemie Meah was identified for speech therapy services at just 16 months due to TIPS. She has since graduated from Early Development Network services and now attends a Head Start program.

Over 10,000 babies & 10 years of Service…Developmental TIPS has supported babies & families Thanks to all our partners, Developmental TIPS has been able to serve children across Nebraska. Additional funding partners include Nebraska Departments of Education and Health and Human Services.

Partnering Hospitals and Clinics- Locations and Contacts

Developmental TIPS - Omaha Alegent/Bergan Mercy Medical Ctr 7500 Mercy Rd Omaha, NE Barb Hostler Lakeside Hospital – Alegent Lakeside Hills Plz Omaha, NE Barb Hostler Children’s Hopsital & Medical Ctr 8200 Dodge St North Tower, 5 th Floor Omaha, NE Barb Peterson Creighton University Medical Ctr 601 N 30 th St Omaha, NE Kathy King Methodist Women’s Hospital 707 N. 190 th Plz Omaha, NE Kathy Walburn (402) Nebraska Medical Center 4350 Dewey Avenue Omaha, NE Nadia Shotkoski

Developmental TIPS - Lincoln Bryan LGH Medical Center 1600 S 48 th St Lincoln, NE Danielle Swanson Dee Murman St. Elizabeth Medical Center 555 South 70 th St. Lincoln, NE Connie Paben /

Developmental TIPS - Kearney Good Samaritan Hospital Family Birth Center 10 E. 31 st St., Box 1990 Kearney, NE (308) Ashley Fuller

Developmental TIPS - Scottsbluff Regional West Medical Center 4021 Ave B Scottsbluff, NE Wendy Neumann-Husted, SW 4021 Avenue B Scottsbluff, NE

How do I enroll? Once you have received all the information you need about this program, you will be asked to sign a release of information.sign a release This allows us to exchange information with your baby’s primary physician, the hospital and the UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute which will be responsible for working with you to arrange follow-up and collect outcome information. Your hospital staff will have a brochure about TIPS that you can request and take home or click here (Developmental TIPS Brochure) / (Developmental TIPS Brochure-Spanish) to read and print yourself.Developmental TIPS BrochureDevelopmental TIPS Brochure-Spanish

What happens next? Step 1: Fill out the release of information and give to your NICU nurse.release Step 2: Once you and your baby are home, you will receive a welcome letter. Let us know if your address will be changing. Step 3: You will be contacted when your baby’s age is 6 months for their first follow-up assessment. If your baby was premature, contact will be at 6 months adjusted age.adjusted age Learn more about your follow-up options… Learn more about your follow-up options Remember… there is no cost for TIPS follow-up! Just three easy steps and you and your baby will have their first follow-up assessment with TIPS: