Helping Children Develop at the Birth to Five Center of Excellence

Polara Health’s Birth to Five Program is designated as a Center of Excellence. This means we are able to demonstrate:

• Excellent service with high patient satisfaction.
• Proven leadership in the healthcare industry.
• Dedication to preparedness, research and education.
• Focused, evidence-based and outcome-based approach to care.
• Innovative methods for improving quality.
• Strong emphasis on relationships.

Polara Health’s Birth to Five Center of Excellence understands that your children develop within a network of relationships and communities. Our highly trained Birth to Five team provides services that are targeted to strengthen these networks from an integrated approach that is developmentally and trauma informed.

Birth to Five programs are essential for supporting children and families during the critical early years of a child’s development. These early years set the foundation upon which all subsequent development happens. Our program encompasses a wide range of services and interventions that aim to promote the well-being and healthy growth of young children. By providing comprehensive support to families, Polara Health’s Birth to Five program plays a crucial role in fostering optimal child development, enhancing parenting skills and promoting school readiness.

Birth to Five programs recognize the significance of the early years in shaping a child’s overall development. During this period, the brain undergoes rapid growth, and children acquire essential cognitive, social, emotional and physical skills that form the foundation for future learning and success. Our program offers a wellness approach to support a child’s development by addressing various aspects of his/her well-being, including health, nutrition, early education and social-emotional development.

Another critical component of our Birth to Five program is the support offered to families. Our program recognizes that parents are a child’s first and most influential teachers. We provide parents with resources, information and guidance to enhance their parenting skills and promote positive parent-child relationships. Parenting education programs, classes and support groups offer strategies for nurturing a child’s development, managing behavior and fostering a supportive home environment. By empowering parents, we help in creating a strong foundation for a child’s lifelong well-being.

Additionally, our Birth to Five program fosters social-emotional development, recognizing the importance of emotional well-being in a child’s overall growth. Teaching parents to create opportunities for a child to develop social skills, build relationships and regulate their emotions. Through activities such as playgroups, peer interactions and emotional support, a child learns to express feelings, develop empathy and build resilience, which are crucial for his/her social and emotional competence.

It is also important to foster community engagement and collaboration, bringing together families, educators, healthcare providers and community organizations to create a comprehensive support system for the child. By coordinating services and sharing resources, together, we can provide families with a network of support that addresses their diverse needs. Collaboration ensures a seamless transition for children as they move from one stage to another, such as transitioning from early intervention services to preschool.

By offering high-quality early education, health care, parenting support and community engagement, Polara Health’s Birth to Five program contributes to ensuring that children have a strong foundation for future success. Birth to Five programs are crucial for creating a community where all children have the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.

Polara Health’s Birth to Five services include:

• A specialized team of therapists and family involvement specialists with expertise in ages 0-5
• Assessment and screening
• Therapeutic intervention
• Trauma-informed parenting classes
• Child skills groups
• Respite services
• Home-based family and direct support services
• Therapy
• Assessment and coordination of care with OT/PT/ST, AZEIP and community resources
• Collaboration with community partners
• Family Involvement Center
• DCS/Court teams
• Healthy Families
• Yavapai County Public Health Nurse
• Kidabilities

For more information about our Children’s Services and the Birth the Five Center of Excellence Program, please go to our website: www.polarahealth.com, call us at 928-445-5211, or reach out to one of us. QCBN

By Leah May and Leah Webb

Leah May MS, LCSW, IMH-E is the director of Outpatient Behavioral Health Services. Leah Webb M.Ed, LMSW, IMH-E is the clinical site supervisor of the Children’s Clinic on Cortez St.

Courtesy Photo: Birth to Five programs recognize the significance of the early years in shaping a child’s overall development. During this period, the brain undergoes rapid growth, and children acquire essential cognitive, social, emotional and physical skills that form the foundation for future learning and success.