During the coronavirus pandemic, our youngest children and their families are facing unprecedented challenges and managing household stress. Amidst COVID-19, more than 40% of households with young children are worried about paying for basic needs like food or rent, according to the University of Oregon.

Additionally, nearly two-thirds of caregivers feel they have lost emotional support since the start of the pandemic.

In McKean County, Early Intervention is now provided by tele-intervention services when possible and home visits under special circumstances. However, providing services to, on average, 130 families participating in these programs remains a challenge. Canceled programs, including daycare, story hour and preschool, leaves a void for many children and families. In order to minimize these yet unrealized setbacks, the efforts of specialists providing local services have been stepped up.

Early Intervention is a federally-mandated program. In McKean County this program consists of services and support designed to help families with children who have developmental delays or disabilities. Any child who shows a 25% delay in development is eligible. Services can include information about how children develop, parent or caregiver education, family support or developmental and instructional therapies that assist in child development.

McKean County contracts these services through the coordinated efforts of the Intermediate Unit 9. Participation in the program is voluntary and can come from a professional referral or self-referral.

Early intervention builds upon the natural learning that occurs in the first few years. The county promotes the use of early intervention services for every child in need, so they may meet their milestones and grow to their full potential. More information is available at (814) 975-1221 or on the county website under the Departments-Human Services tab.

Research also tells us that the most rapid period of brain development occurs within the first three years of life, laying the foundation for all future learning, behavior and health. In the first three years of life, the brain forms more than one million new neural connection, every second. These connections are impacted by mental and physical interactions, and in fact, when trauma is present, these vital neural connections are disrupted.

Now is the time to support young children and ensure they have access to high-quality services during these critical years. By investing in young children early and focusing on the prenatal to three years, counties can see higher returns and reduce the need for more expensive supports later in life.

This is why McKean County is joining Counties for Kids, a public-awareness campaign for county leaders who are committed to making investments in young children. We encourage all counties to join McKean County and the National Association of Counties Research Foundation in growing the network of champions in advancing the policies and programs of prenatal to three development.

While we must continue to address many pressing issues during this time of crisis, we must keep an eye on our future and not lose ground in these forgotten households who are impacted by isolation from education, healthcare and social experiences. The efforts we make today will have a lasting impact on the future of our communities and our families.

An investment of time, money and resources in building healthy, educated and well-adjusted children might be the most impactful effort we can prioritize today for a better tomorrow.

(Carol E. Duffy is a McKean County commissioner.)