Partnership expands developmental services to Tulsa kids

Media Release

September 18, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY — Tulsa-based nonprofit, Sprouts Child Development, watched as the number of developmental pediatricians in Tulsa dwindled in recent years — from four falling to just one in 2019 — and knew they needed to act.

With an estimated 19,000 Tulsa children who have at least one developmental and/or behavioral delay requiring intervention, one local provider was simply not enough to meet the need. So, in early 2020, Sprouts opened the doors of a pilot pediatric clinic to provide Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) to Tulsa kids. The providers at the DBP clinic diagnose developmental, behavioral, and complex medical issues.

The new clinic works in tandem with the existing Sprouts clinic staffed with Speech and Occupational Therapists who provide evaluation and specialized therapy services for children. Both clinics serve children from birth through age 10, and frequently serve the same children.

The collaboration between the two clinics allows the physicians and therapists to work together as a multidisciplinary team to ensure the best outcomes for the children and families who are served.

Upon opening, the new clinic was quickly inundated with referrals. However, their capacity was limited to 480 children per year with just one part-time developmental behavioral pediatrician. Sprouts started looking for additional funding to expand their capacity. In February 2022, they received financing from Oklahoma City-based nonprofit MetaFund and its Impact Investing Collaborative to help with clinic expansion.

“This partnership has enabled us to significantly expand our services and provide critical care to more children in need, especially those who are underserved and underrepresented,” said Lesley Gudgel, Sprouts Executive Director. “We greatly appreciate our funder's investments and belief in our mission and team. We are excited about the progress we will continue to make together.”

The expansion financing received allowed Sprouts to add new providers and support staff, and as a result, Sprouts almost tripled the number of visits they were able to provide from April, May and June of 2022 compared to the same quarter of 2023. The burgeoning numbers reflect the growing need for the services.

 “The lack of sufficient access to developmental and behavioral screening and evaluation in Oklahoma has long been a barrier to early intervention, which we know is important for improving outcomes,” said Ed Long, President of the Impact Investing Collaborative. “Sprouts is making it possible for more kids to get connected to the resources they need in a timely manner, and we are honored to support their work.”

For more information about MetaFund and the Oklahoma Impact Investing Collaborative, visit www.metafund.org or call 405-949-0001. More information about Sprouts Child Development can be found at https://www.sproutsdevelopment.com.

Media Contact: Ed Long, President, Oklahoma Impact Investing Collaborative

Phone: (405) 922-7580

Email: Elong@metafund.org

-30-