Optimum growth project: Support for families with young children

Summary

This paper describes the Optimum Growth Project of the South County Mental Health Center in Delray Beach, Florida, a service model for providing home‐based early intervention for families with young children. Included is a description of the original program design implemented in 1975, a summary of progress and findings at the time the program was selected to receive the Lela Rowland Prevention Award in 1980, and program modifications and evaluation results subsequent to the award. This paper incorporates portions of earlier reports and previous presentations on aspects of the program. The Optimum Growth Project was discontinued in June of 1986 when funding ended.