Concerned she wouldn't be able to properly care for Riley, she agonized over whether to put him up for adoption, then decided against it and looked for help. A nurse sent by her insurance company knew little about Riley's condition.
But a social worker at Primary Children's Medical Center told her about the state's Baby Watch Early Intervention Program, and Lasko signed Riley up. Now 2 1/2 , he can use sign language to ask for toys and is learning to walk.
"The therapists know him and care about him and know how to help us take care of him," Lasko said.
She is now lobbying the Utah Department of Health to ask the Legislature for an additional $2.6 million for the program. Aside from Medicaid increases, the early intervention money is one of the largest requests in the department's draft budget, behind the $3.6 million for a stockpile of antiviral medication in case of a flu pandemic.
Other high dollar amounts on the wish list are: $850,000 for a computerized public-health surveillance system to track illnesses; $900,000 for an obesity-prevention plan; $1 million in vaccine funding; and $637,000 for the primary-care grants program, in which medically underserved communities get funding for medical, dental and mental health services.
The Health Department's staff will submit its proposed budget and increases to Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. on Sept. 30.
The Legislature ultimately will decide how much state money the Health Department receives. Its budget this year, coming from the state and federal governments and user fees, was more than $18 billion, of which $1.5 billion went to Medicaid.
The Baby Watch program was established in 1987 to serve children up to 3 years old with developmental delays and disabilities, including Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and spina bifida.
Families are charged $10 to $100 a month based on their incomes. That is a bargain, Lasko said, considering the potentially high price of therapists, who help with speech, eating, walking and other skills.
She was one of about 30 people who spoke at the Health Department's public hearing on its budget in late August.
"The purpose of our program is to help the family meet the special needs of their young child," said Susan Ord, Baby Watch program manager. "The family is always involved in the therapy. Most of our services are provided at the home."
Fifteen agencies and educational institutions throughout the state provide services: five nonprofit groups, five school districts, Southern Utah University, Utah State University and three local health departments.
"The agencies do a lot of outreach with physicians so they understand what kinds of therapies are available," Ord said. "A lot of it is word-of- mouth."
Last year, therapists helped 5,278 children - the most ever. The $2.6 million increase is projected to keep up with caseload growth for the next fiscal year. Funding from the state is $6.8 million, and the federal government contributes $6.3 million. Parents pour in another $200,000 in copayments.
Salt Lake Valley resident Mandy Bennett contacted the program when her son was 18 months old. Doctors diagnosed him with benign extra-axial fluid of infancy, a condition that causes his head to grow rapidly, affecting development such as rolling over, talking, walking and crawling.
She was familiar with the program through her former job as a special education teacher with the Jordan School District.
"So many people don't know about it, and parents hesitate to say anything is wrong with their children," she said. "Honestly, they have provided us with so much support and help. They came to our house and showed us ways to encourage him to talk. Even with my background in special education, I didn't know what to do with a child who wasn't talking."
Now, at 2 1/2 , her son can keep up with his peers.
"To wait to get the help is doing a great disservice to your child," Bennett said.
chamilton@sltrib.com
Proposed increases
ä BABY WATCH EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM:
Current budget: $13.3 million
Proposed increase: $2.6 million
ä VACCINE FUNDING:
Current budget: $995,000
Proposed increase: $1 million
ä UPDATED COMPUTERS FOR TRACKING ILLNESSES:
Proposed increase: $850,000 in one-time funding
ä OBESITY PREVENTION:
Current budget: $800,000
Proposed increase: $900,000
