Help Me Grow Maine

Our Model

Help Me Grow isn’t a single program. It’s a network that brings together different resources to support young children. It builds on what's already available in Maine to create a comprehensive approach to early childhood development.

HMG Maine is an affiliate of the National Help Me Grow Network. Together, we are working to help all children thrive.

Mission, Vision, and Values

Help Me Grow Maine aims to:

• Offer ongoing support for families to successfully navigate systems so they can access services they need to support their child’s development
• Make developmental screening universally available across Maine
• Promote families’ knowledge of child development, resilience in times of need, and ability to be their child’s best advocate

What Does Help Me Grow Maine Do?

Help Me Grow Maine serves as a central access point for all families of children birth to 8, as well as pregnant people, to reach out and be linked with information, resources, and connections to the already-existing services that are part of the grid here in Maine.

Help Me Grow Maine Language Access

Help Me Grow Maine works with Language Line to provide phone interpreting for caregivers who reach out or are referred for support. We also utilize a platform called Reach My Teach, which allows Family Support Specialists to email and text families in their preferred language. This platform also translates resource documents for families. Most of the resources on our website are available in the top 10 languages spoken in Maine, and our developmental screenings online are available in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic. All of our team members receive training in cultural competency, and two of our Family Support Specialists serve as cultural brokers who specialize in supporting our New American communities around the state.

• Request for cultural broker assistance: OCFS Family Support Specialist (FSS)/System Navigation Request Form

Access to Child Safety Seats

• HMG Child Passenger Safety (download flyer)
• Bureau Highway Safety Car Seat Check ( https://www.maine.gov/dps/bhs/safety-programs/child-passenger-safety/car-seat-distribution-locations )

Developmental Screening

Here are some tools and tips you can use to ensure the healthy development of all children in Maine.

FAQs

Is there a cost to participate?

No, there is no cost to use Help Me Grow Maine.

Does Help Me Grow Maine provide direct services to children?

No. We provide caregivers with short-term care coordination to help them become better connected with the already existing services in Maine. We also provide information to other professionals who inquire about resources in their communities for them to share with families they serve.

Who can refer to Help Me Grow Maine, and how is this done?

Anyone can refer to Help Me Grow Maine, including parents and caregivers for their own child, or a child in their care, as well as professionals working with families.

• Online Referral
• Toll-Free: 1-833-714-7969
• Dial 211, Option 5
• Phone: 207-624-7969
• Fax: 207-624-7994
• Email: HelpMeGrow@maine.gov

What can I expect when reaching out to Help Me Grow Maine, or referring a family I work with to Help Me Grow Maine?

• Step One: Contact Help Me Grow Maine.
• Step Two: During a phone call, a Family Support Specialist can connect you with information about child development, pregnancy, and/or community resources. In addition, free developmental screening will be offered.
• Step Three: After being connected to a resource, a Family Support Specialist will offer follow-up using the family’s preferred method of communication at 5, 25, and 60 business days to ensure a connection was made.
• Step Four: With caregiver consent, the outcome of any resources provided can be shared with provider(s) of the caregiver’s choice.

Does Help Me Grow Maine provide home visits?

No. You can reach out to Maine Families to learn about home visiting services.

What is the difference between Help Me Grow Maine and Early Intervention for ME?

Early Intervention for ME is a specialized service designed to provide support for children who have significant developmental delays, or diagnoses that put them at risk of delays. Help Me Grow Maine provides support to caregivers of all children in Maine, prenatal to age eight.

What is the difference between Help Me Grow Maine and CradleMe?

CradleMe is a system that allows children to be referred to multiple programs by completing one simple form, and caregivers will receive calls from those programs to inquire about their interest in services. Help Me Grow Maine can refer to the same programs, as well as other programs for young children and their families, and additionally will provide short-term care coordination to help caregivers successfully connect with those resources.

Does Help Me Grow Maine support early childhood professionals as well?

Yes! Professionals working with young children and their caregivers are welcome to reach out to Help Me Grow Maine. We can provide ideas for resources for situations where professionals may be struggling to identify resources or would like confirmation that what they are offering is appropriate for a family’s needs.

What does Help Me Grow Maine do if families of children over age eight call, or if a child served by Help Me Grow Maine has an older sibling that also could use support?

While Help Me Grow Maine does not provide direct support to children over the age of eight, Family Support Specialists will make their best attempt to connect caregivers with more applicable resources for those situations.

What training do the Help Me Grow Maine Family Support Specialists have?

Help Me Grow Maine Family Support Specialists have social work and case management backgrounds, as well as additional training in evidence-based practices and models for working with families. These include Touchpoints (Brazelton Institute) and Motivational Interviewing. Additionally, all Family Support Specialists are fully trained in the developmental screening Ages and Stages Questionnaires.