Help Me Grow strives to offer families seamless access to community services and supports so they can easily connect to the resources they need, when they need them. See what Help Me Grow Washington partners are doing to support this endeavor across the state.

Help Me Grow Washington News

Help Me Grow WA Action Teams Continue Work

The HMG WA Action Teams, which will help design and develop the HMG model, met last month to brainstorm and learn together. The National Equity Project led an exploration of Liberatory Design – an approach to address equity challenges in systems-level work. Help Me Grow Pierce County also gave a presentation. Learn more about how to get involved on the HMG WA website.
News from HMG WA Partner, Washington Communities for Children

Washington Communities for Children (WCFC) is in the process of a restructure to better align with the HMG framework. To do so, they are hiring for state specialty roles to facilitate the above HMG WA Action Teams. Positions are being finalized now (learn more), and will begin in January.

WCFC would like to welcome Rachel Hall as its new State Lead. Rachel will support the mission of WCFC – connecting local and statewide efforts to improve the wellbeing of children, families and communities. Rachel previously served as the Manager of Project Child Success in Pierce County, where she aligned 175 community partners around a shared purpose for the early childhood system.
Welcome to the New Help Me Grow WA Network Manager

Welcome to Jackie Litzau, the new Help Me Grow Network Manager! Jackie will lead work with HMG WA sub-affiliates and community partners to provide technical assistance and support. Jackie’s experience with training, project planning and management, evaluation, and racial equity, as well as her previous roles at public health agencies in Washington and Oregon, will be an asset to the HMG system building and expansion.
COVID Care Surge Support

In collaboration with state agencies and community partners, WithinReach – the HMG WA State Affiliate – is engaging in COVID Care work to help families meet their basic needs during self-isolation or quarantine. This work started in Central WA, yet is expanding due to rising COVID-19 cases. A virtual Care Coordinator team will mobilize to help families in Spokane, Benton and Franklin Counties enroll in grocery delivery, financial assistance and basic needs programs.
Help Me Grow and Paid Family & Medical Leave

HMG WA and the Paid Family & Medical Leave program are exploring ways to partner to best serve families. A proviso under the 2020 operating budget directed the Employment Security Department to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature concerning the ability for the program and a statewide family resource, referral and linkage system (HMG WA) to provide integrated services to eligible beneficiaries. Read the report.
Help Me Grow National News
Help Me Grow and an Early Learning Partnership

The HMG National Center convened a Community of Practice (CoP) to explore HMG-Early Learning strategies in communities across the nation in an effort to expand capacity to address the developmental needs of young children in early learning settings. This report summarizes the learnings of that CoP and includes recommendations and opportunities to continue to strengthen these efforts.
Save the Date: 2021 Help Me Grow National Virtual Forum
 
Mark your calendars for the Annual Help Me Grow National Forum, taking place September 20-23, 2021. The Forum is an opportunity for affiliates and partners to network, create new partnerships and discuss ideas and innovations. 
Help Me Grow Regional News

Help Me Grow Central WA Has a New Phone Number

Help Me Grow/Ayúdame a Crecer Central WA in Yakima and Kittitas Counties has a new phone number for families seeking support. The phone number is 509-490-3009 and the hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. View our county map to find out how to access resources from different areas of the state.
News & Resources

For Parents & Caregivers:



WithinReach is working in shared leadership with the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families and Washington Communities for Children to guide the design and development of a vision and spread and scale plan for a unified Help Me Grow Washington. This newsletter will promote Help Me Grow efforts and share relevant state and local communications, resources and updates across the network.
Send along ideas and resources for the Help Me Grow Washington website and future newsletters by emailing Taryn Essinger at taryne@withinreachwa.org.
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