OSDH Child Guidance Program

The OSDH Child Guidance Program provides counseling, speech-language therapy, and child development and parenting services through regional clinics inside county health departments. It is one of the state broadest supports for early childhood growth and family well-being.

What it offers

• Counseling for children and families working through emotional or behavioral concerns
• Speech-language therapy for children with communication delays
• Child development assessments and guidance for parents
• Parenting education that helps caregivers support healthy growth
• A sliding fee scale and acceptance of Medicaid to keep services affordable

Who it is for

Families with children from birth to age 18 can use the program, which makes it unusually wide in reach compared with services limited to a narrow age range. Fees follow a sliding scale tied to income, and Medicaid is accepted, so cost is rarely a barrier. It suits parents who have questions about a child speech, behavior, or development and want professional guidance close to home rather than a long drive to a specialist. Details on current fees are on the official site.

Getting started

Getting started means contacting the local county health department clinic or the central program line to request an appointment. Staff explain what to expect, gather background on the child, and schedule an initial visit. Because clinics operate within county health departments statewide, families can usually find services within a reasonable distance of where they live, which makes ongoing appointments easier to keep.

How it fits with other help

Because the Child Guidance Program spans counseling, speech-language therapy, and parenting support, it often complements care a family already receives. A child seeing a pediatrician for a speech or behavior concern, for example, may work with this program alongside that medical home, and staff can help parents understand how the pieces fit together.

The program’s wide age range, from birth to 18, and its sliding fee scale make it a practical companion to other supports. Families using Medicaid can use it since Medicaid is accepted, and those who also draw on nutrition or early education programs can weave guidance from this program into an existing routine close to home.

For a first appointment, it helps to bring notes on the concern and any relevant records from a doctor or school. Because clinics operate within county health departments statewide, families can usually keep ongoing appointments without a long drive, and a household with more than one child can ask whether siblings can be seen at the same location to simplify scheduling.

Parents who want to move forward can reach the central program line at (405) 426-8100 during regular business hours, or contact the county health department clinic nearest them; either route reaches staff who schedule the first appointment. Because every family with a child from birth to age 18 can use the program, there is no income cutoff to clear before calling, and the sliding fee scale is worked out afterward based on what a household can manage. Families already enrolled in Medicaid can mention it, since Medicaid is accepted. It helps to describe the specific concern briefly when calling, whether it involves speech, behavior, or development, so staff can direct the family to the right clinician and, where more than one child is involved, note that at the outset.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of help does it offer?

It provides counseling, speech-language therapy, and child development and parenting services. These are offered through clinics inside county health departments across the state.

What ages qualify?

Families with children from birth to age 18 can use the program, a wider range than many similar services offer. That breadth is one of its strengths.

Can I afford it?

Fees follow a sliding scale based on income, and Medicaid is accepted, so cost is rarely a barrier. Details on current fees are on the official site.

How do I make an appointment?

Contact your local county health department clinic or the central program line to schedule a first visit. Staff explain what to expect and gather background on the child.