Building Confidence, One Milestone at a Time: Noah’s Early On Story

When Lauren and her husband Josh welcomed their son Noah into the world, they couldn’t have imagined how many challenges they’d face in his early years. From medical complications to developmental delays, their first years as parents were filled with uncertainty. 

At 17 months old, Noah was still not walking. He struggled with crawling, had difficulty with tummy time due to reflux, and his communication was limited to pointing and frustrated cries. That’s when their pediatrician referred them to Early On, a free, home-based program at Oakland Family Services designed to help children from birth to age three reach developmental milestones through personalized, family-centered support. 

For Lauren, that referral changed everything. 

“It’s like Oakland Family Services is a one-stop shop, full service,” she said. “It's a safe space.” There was no need to juggle multiple appointments or offices. Everyone worked together and went directly to the family, into their space, where they were most comfortable. 

Through home visits, Early On specialists offered hands-on strategies that turned therapy into play. Instead of formal exercises that left Noah upset, the team, especially his specialist Kristi, found creative, gentle ways to help him thrive. 

“Kristi’s been the best,” Lauren shared. “Noah is really connected with her, and she really knows him. She anticipates what we might see before it even happens.” 

Kristi not only guided Noah through developmental milestones but also supported the entire family. From showing Lauren and Josh how to strengthen Noah’s muscles through games, to preparing them for the emotional impact of moving to a new home. Her care extended beyond the child; it reached the parents’ confidence, too. 

“It's made us more confident parents,” Lauren said. “(Early On) helped us stop Googling and comparing... We were getting personalized care because we're not all a checkbox or statistic.” 

The results speak for themselves. Today, Noah is thriving - talkative, social, and full of curiosity. Once frustrated by communication barriers, he now loves to narrate his world.

He’s building independence, learning to dress himself, and showing kindness to his baby sister, Maddie. 

“He’s like a whole different kid,” Lauren said. “We built a really secure attachment here and a confident kid because of the skills Early On gave us.” 

Lauren can’t help but think about how different things might have been without Early On. 

“I think we would be a lot more stressed,” she reflected. “We probably would have been less confident in what we were doing and less supported.” 

For families wondering whether to take that first step, Lauren’s advice is simple: “Do it. Don’t hesitate, just do it.” 

About Early On: 

Early On is a free program offered through Oakland Family Services that helps infants and toddlers who have developmental delays or medical conditions that may affect development. Through individualized home-based visits, the program supports families in fostering their child’s growth physically, emotionally, and socially. 

To learn more or make a referral, visit oaklandfamilyservices.org/earlyon.