Q: How do I get Help Me Grow materials to share with the families I serve?

A: Please call the toll free number, 1.866.GROW.025 (1.866.476.9025) to request materials such as flyers, brochures, referral pads, etc. You may go to our website at www.helpmegrowoc.org to view the available outreach materials. On the website you can also find the contact information for the Community Liaison in your area who will be happy to mail or hand deliver these materials to you.

Q: How do I schedule a Help Me Grow visit for my practice?

A: You can call the toll free number 1.866.GROW.025 and asked to be connected to the Community Liaison for your area who will schedule a visit that is convenient for you and your staff.

Q: What occurs during an office visit from Help Me Grow?

A: A Help Me Grow team member will meet with you and your staff in your office to talk about the importance of early identification, referral and intervention for facilitating child development. Continuing Medical Education credits (CME) are available through the American Academy of Pediatrics. Each in-office visit lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on questions you may have about our services. We understand that you may forego your lunch time for an educational meeting; therefore we are happy to bring a box lunch for all those who participate in our session.

Q: How do I find out if a family I referred to you has called Help Me Grow?

A: At the time of the call parents are asked for the child’s primary health care providers’ name and contact information. If the parent provides this information, a letter is sent to you and the family with the referrals that are provided to the family. This letter can be included in the child’s medical chart.

Q: How do you update the resources in your database?

A: Resource information can be updated in the resource database used for referrals a number of ways. Community Liaisons assigned to the four HMG regions are staying in constant contact with agencies, programs and organizations in an attempt to learn of updated or new program. We also request agencies contact Help Me Grow via our toll free number, 1.866.GROW.025, with any program changes or updates. This information is conveyed to the 2-1-1 Resource Specialist for entry into the shared resource database. Please visit our website at helpmegrowoc.org to find and contact the corresponding Community Liaison assigned to your region. If you prefer, the Community Liaison can visit you at your location to update your program information

Q: How do agency and programs get into your resource database?

A: Call the toll free number (1.866.GROW.025) and asked to be connected to the Community Liaison assigned to the area the program is located. You will then be contacted by the Community Liaison who will collect all the information needed to go into the resource database. You can also go to our website at www.helpmegrowoc.org and print the documents needed to add your program information into the resource database. These documents can them be mailed or faxed to our office.

Q: Do you provide education and training?

A: Yes. Help Me Grow staff are available to offer training and support to primary health care providers wanting to implement routine developmental surveillance and screening. We support the use of norm-referenced screening tools at well child visits. Help Me Grow also offers training open to the public on the Age & Stages Questionnaire: Third Edition (ASQ-3), Ages & Stages Social Emotional, Second Edition (ASQ:SE-2), Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) and Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised, with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F), screening tools for children birth through eight years. Registration information is available on the website under the service providers section.

Q: Is your service free?

A: Yes. Families and providers can call the Help Me Grow toll free number; 1.866.GROW.025 (1.866.476.9025) to be connected to resources in Orange County. The service of connecting your to developmental services and follow up is free. We provide the caller with information and referrals on resources that are available at low or no cost as well as information and referrals on resources that are fee based.

Q: Do you make appointments for children?

A: No. Help Me Grow provides families and providers with information on resources in their communities. It is up to the parent or guardian to call, schedule an appointment or enroll the child or family.

Q: Is the service only for low income families?

A: No. Help Me Grow is available to anyone in Orange County looking for developmental, behavioral or learning resources for their children ages birth through 8 years old.

Q: What languages can your team speak?

A: Help Me Grow has team members that speak English and Spanish fluently. For all other languages, a language line is used to communicate with all other callers.

Q: Does your service help with health insurance?

A: Yes. Help Me Grow can provide information on resources that help families get connected to health insurance and a medical home.

Q: Do you provide direct service?

A: Help Me Grow is the link that helps families connect to services in the community, but does not provide the direct service.

Q: Is the service only available for Orange County residents?

A: We will answer questions to all who call our toll free number looking for resources in Orange County.

Q: What age(s) does your program serve?

A: Help Me Grow serves families with children birth through the age of eight, up to their ninth birhtday. Help Me Grow is funded by the Children and Families Commission of Orange County which limits those we serve. However, if the family has a child older than 8 years of age Help Me Grow will not turn them away and will attempt to connect them to resources.

Q: Can I share the information of your program to other families, friends, and colleagues?

A: Yes. We encourage you to share information about Help Me Grow throughout the community. In fact, if you need extra materials or assistance in doing so, please call the toll free number and we provide you with flyers, brochures, etc.

Q: How is this free service funded?

A: Help Me Grow is funded by the Children and Families Commission of Orange County. They receive funds from the 1998 Proposition 10 Tobacco Tax and distribute these moneys to local community programs serving children birth through age 5 years.

Q: Does your program have eligibility criteria or can anybody receive these services?

A: Help Me Grow is available to anyone who is looking for developmental, learning or behavior resources for children living in Orange County.

Q: Is there an eligibility criteria for inclusion in the resource database?

A: The eligibility criteria for inclusion in the resource database is that the program provides a service for families and children in Orange County.

Q: Is this service only limited to children with special needs?

A: No. Help Me Grow is for all children and families wanting developmental and behavioral resources in Orange County.

Q. What is your relationship with 2-1-1 Orange County?

A: Help Me Grow has a service contract with 2-1-1 Orange County to provide the telephone triage and follow up using Help Me Grow Care Coordinators. Help Me Grow and 2-1-1 Orange County share a resource database used for giving referrals.

Q: How are you different than 2-1-1 Orange County?

A: The differences between Help Me Grow and 2-1-1 Orange County include:
Help Me Grow
• Provides referrals for families with concerns about learning, behavior or development
• Provides referrals to fee based and/or low and no cost resources resources in Orange County
• Serves families with children up to age 8 years
• Conducts follow up calls with families to ensure they are connected to a service
2-1-1 Orange County
• Provides referrals for families regarding basic needs
• Referrals are given for resources that are no or low cost
• Provides referrals on basic need resources for all age groups

Q: What are your business hours?

A: Care Coordinators are available to answer the phone Monday through Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm. Messages can be left 24 hours a day seven days a week.

Q: Where are you located?

A: The Help Me Grow administrative office is located at
2500 Red Hill Ave.
Suite 290 B, Santa Ana, CA 92705.

Q: Can individuals come to your office to get referrals?

A: To receive information, referrals and follow up, please call the toll free number at 1.866.GROW.025.

Q: How many times can a family call your toll free number?

A: There is no limit on the number of times a family can call for the same child or other children of the same family.

Q: How soon does a family get referrals after calling?

A: Many times referrals are given at the time of the initial phone call. If further research is needed to ensure the resource is a fit for the family, a Community Liaison will follow up with you within 24 hours, Monday through Friday, of the initial call.

Q: If a voicemail is left after your business hours, how soon will the call be return call?

A: Our Care Coordinators will follow up within 24 hours, Monday through Friday.

Q: If I leave a voicemail after your business hours, how soon will I receive a return call?

A: Our Care Coordinators will follow up with you within 24 hours, Monday through Friday.