The key to our success lies in a shared vision and joined forces.
The Annual Help Me Grow National Forum, hosted by the National Center, is an opportunity for affiliates and partners to network and create new partnerships. Each year, the event provides increasing national visibility of the Network’s collective efforts and accomplishments and solicits promising ideas and innovations from across the Network. Distinguished speakers facilitate and contribute to general sessions, panel discussions, and keynote addresses, offering insight into the direction and aspirations within the field of early childhood health and system building.
Help Me Grow Forum 2020 | Indianapolis, Indiana
11th Annual Help Me Grow Forum
Indianapolis, IN | May 11-13, 2020
Breakout Sessions will allow presenters to engage a targeted audience around a topic relevant to the Help Me Grow (HMG) system model, child health & development, and/or early childhood system building. Breakout sessions will be offered during several 75-minute periods throughout the Forum and will be organized according to four content areas:
1. Families’ Experience in Early Childhood Systems
2. Understanding and Mitigating the Impacts of Toxic Stress in Early Childhood
3. Implementing Developmental Promotion, Early Detection, Referral and Linkage
4. Ensuring Sustainability and Expansion.
Priority will be given to ensure a robust and balanced number of presentations across all themes, should a disproportionate number of proposals be submitted for one of the three themes. All proposals are encouraged to address associated strategies related to the promotion of equity, use of reflective practice, and evaluation; further, applicants are encouraged to share their approach to the session format, including interactive/discussion elements. Applications are open to HMG affiliates and their state/local partners, and national partners. Accepted breakout presentations will require at least (1) presenter to register and be in attendance at the National Forum for the day of the presentation. Applicants can submit more than one Breakout proposal, and each will be reviewed by the Forum Planning Committee on relevance, timeliness, level of anticipated interest and practical application. Breakout applications not accepted will be encouraged to share the proposed content as part of the Poster & Networking Session.
Applications for Breakout Sessions are due Friday, January 31, 2020. Applicants will be notified of proposal decisions in February 2019.
Help Me Grow Affiliates can submit a Break Out Proposal here
Poster & Networking Session will enable attendees to showcase progress, accomplishments, results and more from their early childhood system. Posters will be displayed during a dedicated networking time to allow Forum attendees to ask questions and learn from each other. Each affiliate is encouraged to submit at least one poster, and are welcome to include and engage local partners in the content and presentation of the poster, including but not limited to, university students and community members. The poster submission process is open to all Forum attendees and multiple poster submissions are allowed. Contributing author(s) must submit a description of each poster to the National Center for inclusion in the Forum program, as well as design, print and set up posters on site.
Poster Submissions for the Poster and Networking Session will be available at the time of Forum registration. All Posters are accepted provided that information about the poster is received by the National Center prior to the Forum.
Registration Information: Coming Soon!
Help Me Grow Forum 2019 | Buffalo, New York
10th Annual Help Me Grow Forum
Buffalo, NY | May 6 – 8, 2019
The 10th Annual Help Me Grow National Forum was held in Buffalo, NY and sponsored by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. Hosted by Help Me Grow Western New York, “Forum 2019 provided a wonderful opportunity to showcase the dedication and innovation of Help Me Grow Western New York’s many partners in the medical, education, human service, and health care sectors, while inviting professionals from around the country to gather in support of young children,” said Lynn Pullano, Director, HMG WNY. “We recognize the need to give little ones the strongest foundation during their first five years of life, when 85 percent of brain and personality development occur. The Help Me Grow approach allows us to make children’s health, well-being, and school preparedness a top priority so they’re on track to stable, successful futures, which is critical for them and our communities. We look forward to sharing with the nation our pride in the Buffalo-Niagara region, one of the best places to raise children!”
2019 Forum Highlights
keynote speakers
Angela Santomero
Dr. Mona Hana-Attisha
BUFFALO Site visits
Jericho Road Community Health Center
Family Help Center Daycare
John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital
2-1-1 Western New York Call Center
Thank you to all who attended the 10th Annual Help Me Grow National Forum in Buffalo, NY, with a special appreciation for the contributions of our host affiliate, Help Me Grow Western New York, the Forum Planning Committee, and all affiliates sharing expertise.
We were honored to be joined by two keynote speakers. Angela Santomero, the co-creator of Blue’s Clues and visionary for research-based children’s programming, and Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the pediatrician whose research exposed the Flint water crisis, provided the audience with their compelling experiences and perspectives for supporting children’s optimal health and development.
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