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Minnesota Children’s Cabinet Press Release
23 Aug 2021
Pregnant and parenting families with children ages 0 to 8 now have a new tool to connect to services in their local communities that support healthy child development and family well-being.
Help Me Connect is a website designed to help Minnesota families navigate local community, county, and state resources. Families and those who support families, such as preschool teachers, child care providers, and pediatricians, can use Help Me Connect to find services such as:
- Healthy development and screening
- Developmental and behavioral issues
- Services and resources for people with disabilities
- Early learning and child care
- Family well-being and mental health
- Tribal and Native American resources
- Dental care
- Basic needs
- Legal services
- Emergency resources in peacetime
“We know that families are looking for resources in many places. Help Me Connect fills a gap by placing resources in a central location and removing some of that burden from the family, ”said Erin Bailey, Deputy Commissioner of the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet. “Whether a family is with their doctor for an exam or a meeting with a Head Start teacher, there is a tool to identify services in the community. ”
Help Me Connect was developed based on feedback from parents and community providers. Beginning in 2012, a team of early childhood partners – including government staff, tribal liaisons, and healthcare and education providers – explored how to scale up Help Me Grow, which is a site Web of information and referral for parents and providers who have developmental issues relating to children. from birth to 5 years old. Since then, the state has worked with community partners and caregivers to create an expanded website that connects families to the vast array of early years and family well-being resources.
“Accessing Help Me Connect has given me such a boost in staying abreast of the ever-changing constellation of local resources and services,” said Heather Miller, Parent-Child Health Nurse at Sawtooth Mountain Clinic in Grand Marais. “It’s a relief to remember that we can turn to Help Me Connect to tap into the strengths of our community that we didn’t even know existed. “
“When a family visits their doctor, they often bring more than just their health issues to the table,” said Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. “With Help Me Connect, clinicians and family can sit down and learn about the many questions that often arise regarding disability services, housing, childcare support or job training. , or other matters that have an impact on a child’s health. “
Caregivers and families can access Help Me Connect by visiting HelpMeConnectMN.org.
Help Me Connect was created in partnership with the Minnesota Departments of Education, Health, and Human Services, as well as the Governor’s Children’s Office. This is one of many activities funded by the Federal Preschool Development Grant, a $ 26.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services designed to remove barriers so families with young children can access life-changing early childhood programs.
“Help Me Connect has been the work of many people for years in the departments of Health, Education and Human Services,” said Bobbie Burnham, Assistant Commissioner at the Department of Education. “We are grateful for the community partnerships and leadership to launch the site. “
Information about the Preschool Development Grant is available on the Minnesota Department of Education website at Preschool Development Grant.
-MDH-
Media inquiries:
Scott Smith, MDH Communications
651-503-1440
[email protected]
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