The Help Me Grow National Center Joanna Bogin Award honors individuals who have made valuable contributions to the experiences of families with young children by working to make improvements and change at the community, state, and/or national-levels through: 

• Development of strategic partnerships;
• Enabling cross-sector efficiencies;
• Promoting recognition of the need for system-level solutions;
• Advancing policy improvements; and/or 
• Centering equity to promote positive outcomes for all children, especially those from families that are furthest from access and opportunity. 

Winner of the 2025 HMG National Center
Joanna Bogin Award

Rebecca Hernandez, HMG Orange County, CA

This year, the 2025 HMG National Center Joanna Bogin Award was proudly presented to Rebecca Hernandez, a truly exceptional leader whose unwavering dedication has profoundly shaped the HMG mission for nearly two decades. As one of the very first hires at HMG Orange County, Rebecca’s extraordinary commitment has been evident since day one. Her visionary leadership brought major hospital systems together, spearheaded the development of STAR — a client tracking system now utilized nationwide — and transformed HMG into a trusted, indispensable resource for all families in Orange County. Beyond her local impact, Rebecca’s efforts led to the first successful replication of the HMG Model, and she has since mentored countless teams across the country, significantly expanding HMG’s national footprint.

Rebecca’s deservingness extends far beyond her remarkable professional achievements. Her profound personal impact is exemplified by her steadfast support for colleagues through challenging times, demonstrating a deep commitment to the well-being and professional growth of her team. Rebecca’s passion for the HMG mission is truly unmatched, inspiring those around her to tirelessly work towards improving the lives of children and families in Orange County.

Rebecca was also a very close personal friend of Joanna’s, adding a special resonance to this recognition. Joanna’s legacy is not just about programs and systems; it’s about the enduring positive change she has fostered within the community and across the National Network. Rebecca Hernandez embodies the very spirit of the Joanna Bogin Award, and the HMG National Center was proud to recognize her achievements in this special way.

Winner of the 2023 HMG National Center
Joanna Bogin Award

Barbara Leavitt, HMG Utah

Barbara Leavitt, described by her nominators as “the greatest champion for children and families in Utah”, was honored with the inaugural HMG National Center Joanna Bogin Award at HMG National Forum 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Upon moving to Utah, Barbara recognized the need to better support families with young children in her area, and she single-handedly began advocating to bring HMG to her community. Despite repeated funding setbacks and challenges bringing HMG to her state, Barbara’s tireless work paid off, and HMG Utah was born.

In her decades of experience in the early childhood system-building field, Barbara’s passion for including families at all stages of their child’s development was palpable to her colleagues and prominent in her work at the local, state, and even federal-levels. Notably, she also spearheaded the Celebrating Stages project, which is the first universal system of screening in Utah to be unanimously approved by Utah’s Early Childhood Utah, State Advisory Council, and the Governor’s Early Childhood Commission.

Barbara worked from a place of love, purpose, vision, and inclusion to improve services for children and families in Utah, and HMG National was thrilled to recognize her for her transformative work in this ever-evolving field.