A better future starts with Help Me Grow.
Every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential. The first five years of life are a period of rapid growth and possibility. Families benefit when health care, early learning, parent support, and other resources are connected and easy to navigate. Without coordination, families can struggle to find the right help, and providers may find it hard to connect them to needed services.
Think of the network of services for young children as a power grid. Help Me Grow makes sure the grid runs smoothly so families can plug in and get what they need, when they need it.
Help Me Grow is not a stand-alone program—it is a system approach that strengthens what already exists. By bringing partners together around shared goals, communities can maximize resources, avoid duplication, and ensure children get the right support at the right time.
The Model’s Four Core Components
- Centralized Access Point
A single, trusted point—often a call center or online service—where families and professionals can turn for guidance, referrals, and follow-up.
- Family Outreach
Helps parents and caregivers understand child development, connects them with support, and builds relationships among providers and families.
- Child Health Care Provider Outreach
Supports pediatric and primary care providers in spotting potential concerns early and linking families to needed resources.
- Data Collection & Analysis
Tracks progress, highlights gaps, and informs continuous improvement so systems can become stronger and more effective.
The Model’s Three Structural Requirements
Three foundational elements provide the infrastructure and vision to advance efficient, effective systems of care and support that work for all families with young children:
- Organizing Entity: Ensures coordination and oversight, bringing together partners to align efforts and resources.
- Continuous System Improvement: Uses data to guide adjustments, improve efficiency, and expand impact.
- Spread & Scale: Shares innovations and lessons learned so effective strategies can expand and reach more families.
I wish our families could know how much thought and energy goes into this Model!
Diana McGee
HMG Long Island, NY
MORE ABOUT THE HMG CORE COMPONENTS
Child Health Care Provider Outreach
Pediatric and primary care providers see nearly every young child, putting them in a unique position to spot potential concerns early. But they often face challenges: limited time, complex referral pathways, and difficulty staying current on local resources.
Help Me Grow eases this burden by supporting providers with tools, encouragement, and a reliable connection point. We partner with pediatric practices to encourage ongoing monitoring and screening, and we provide a centralized hub that coordinates referrals on their behalf. This helps busy practitioners focus on families while knowing children will be connected to the right supports.
Family & Community Outreach
Families are at the heart of the Help Me Grow approach. We raise awareness of the model, strengthen relationships among service providers, and share practical information on child development.
Family outreach includes attending public events, hosting learning sessions, and partnering with local agencies to build strong networks of support. A visible presence helps parents and caregivers know where to turn, encourages provider collaboration, and keeps local resource directories accurate and up to date.
Centralized Access Point
The Centralized Access Point—often a call center with an online option—serves as the “go-to” place for families, health care providers, and professionals seeking guidance and referrals.
Staffed by trained care coordinators, this hub offers education, answers questions, explains developmental milestones, and connects families to appropriate services. Coordinators also follow up to make sure referrals are successful, ensuring families feel supported every step of the way.
Data Collection & Analysis
Data fuels improvement across the Help Me Grow system. Information gathered from each core component helps local affiliates measure progress, identify gaps, and strengthen partnerships.
Shared metrics across the National Network allow us to tell a collective story about the impact of Help Me Grow, while locally tailored data guides day-to-day decisions and quality improvement projects.
MORE ABOUT THE STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS
Organizing Entity
Building a Help Me Grow system requires strong coordination and shared responsibility. An organizing entity provides administrative and financial oversight, convenes partners, and establishes a leadership team to guide implementation. Over time, roles may evolve, but having a stable “home” for the system is essential for sustainability.
Spread & Scale
Help Me Grow is designed to grow. From the start, affiliates consider how to expand reach, share lessons, and strengthen links across service sectors. While systems may begin locally, broader adoption ensures that statewide policies, funding streams, and networks align to support families consistently.
Continuous Quality Improvement
Sustainable systems depend on ongoing reflection and adjustment. Help Me Grow emphasizes steady, incremental improvements that maximize efficiency and strengthen outcomes for children and families. By learning from experience and sharing best practices, affiliates ensure the model continues to evolve and improve over time.
