Help Me Grow

Help Me Grow

The early design and planning phase for Help Me Grow LA (HMG-LA) just took a major first step toward building, in partnership, a comprehensive and coordinated system to support promoting young children’s optimal development and well-being.

Over 60 county agencies, organizations and programs across diverse disciplines and sectors including health and early care and education were involved in the early design and planning phase and contributed to developing recommendations for HMG-LA.

The recommendations “Promoting Children’s Optimal Development” put forth by the planning members 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 young children have the support they need to thrive.

First 5 LA is presenting the HMG-LA recommendations and providing updates on a number of items related to early identification and intervention to the Board of Commissioners at the upcoming Special Commission/ Programs and Planning Committee on Thursday, October 26, 2017 and the Board of Commissioners on Thursday, November 9, 2017.

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.