Help Me Grow - A project of our Early Identification and Intervention strategy
The early design and planning phase for Help Me Grow Los Angeles (HMG LA) took the major first step toward building, in partnership, a comprehensive and coordinated system to support young children’s optimal development and well-being.
More than 60 county agencies, organizations and programs across diverse disciplines and sectors, including health and early care and education, were involved in the initial design and planning phase, and contributed to developing recommendations for HMG LA.
The recommendations put forth by the planning members, “Promoting Children’s Optimal Development,” serve as a guide to inform First 5 LA, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) and county partners for the next phase of implementation planning for HMG LA.
Neither a program nor a service, HMG is a national effort that builds on existing resources at the local level to strengthen how systems work together to provide timely screenings for developmental and behavioral delays, effective care coordination and appropriate referrals to ensure that young children have the support they need to thrive.
The next phase of planning, co-led by the LACDPH and First 5 LA, will include the establishment of a Leadership Advisory Committee and Family Advisory Committee, ongoing collaboration with county partners, and strategic research and evaluation.
Apply To Be A Community Member Interviewer for the HMG LA Pathways Investment
First 5 LA invites parents, guardians and caregivers to help interview agencies seeking to receive funding from the Help Me Grow Los Angeles (HMG LA) Pathways: Together Strengthening Connections for Kids and Families project. Interviewers will help First 5 LA select grantee(s) who will work with other agencies and people to test ways to better connect children and their families to resources within the community to help children reach their optimal development. HMG-LA Pathways is a project that will improve connections to developmental services and supports. More information can be found on our First 5 LA Funding Center here. The Application Deadline to apply has been extended to January 17, 2020. Applications are available in both English and Spanish.
Additional Resources
First 5 Explains: Developmental Screenings/Early Interventions
