October 17, 2022 By CDHD Melissa Crist named Idaho's Act Early Ambassador We are pleased to announce that Melissa Crist, Director of Early Childhood Programs, has again been named Idaho’s Act Early Ambassador. She will serve for the 2024-26 term, which started on October 1 and will finish on September 30, 2026. Melissa will continue to act as Idaho’s contact and promote the integration of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) ‘Learn the Signs. Act Early’ program. This program works to improve early identification of delays and developmental disabilities. This includes autism. This is a collaborative effort between the CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Healthy Bureau, and the AUCD. Of her continuation in the role, Melissa said, “Serving as the CDC’s Act Early Ambassador to Idaho since 2019 has been a true pleasure. This role has enabled me to advance the priorities of the CDHD to the benefit of Idaho’s youngest citizens and their families. “I am eager to continue this work over the next two years with a broad range of partners serving children from birth to five.” Act Early Idaho Act Early Idaho is at the center of Melissa’s work as the Act Early Ambassador. It helps families and professionals monitor child development and identify any concerns early. This is the first and most important step in identifying children who may need additional supports. In addition to providing useful tools and resources to parents, the project has helped to develop and coordinate a statewide Act Early Idaho team and complete a state needs assessment on current barriers and opportunities for early identification. The team has also worked on developing, implementing and evaluating strategic early identification opportunities and developed strategies to improve resiliency of Idaho’s young children and their families. Looking ahead, Melissa said, “I aim to maintain the robust Act Early Idaho state team and significantly expand our early identification initiatives to include crucial programs such as child welfare.” For more information about Act Early Idaho, or to explore the resources available to you, visit the Project's website.