First 5 Fox Valley is honored to be the recipient of an $85,620 Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin (AHW) Seed Grant for 2025, focused on Identifying Pathways to Implement the Help Me Grow Model within Health Systems. This initiative seeks to address barriers to child development, particularly in rural and urban areas where racial disparities, economic pressures, and limited mental health support impact access to services.
Building on our successful partnership with ThedaCare, where Help Me Grow (HMG) referral pathways were integrated into EPIC software systems, this project will explore how different health systems track developmental screenings and family follow-up. By documenting ThedaCare’s model within its Social Determinants of Health team, we aim to create a standardized blueprint for integrating HMG into additional healthcare settings across Wisconsin.
Through collaboration with Genesis Health Consulting and Dr. Jennifer Koop of the Medical College of Wisconsin, we will work to expand developmental screening access and identify gaps where HMG can better support families. Ultimately, this initiative seeks to improve early childhood health outcomes, enhance family support, and promote health equity for underserved communities.
To read the complete project summary, read here: AHW Seed Grant 2025.
We look forward to sharing updates as we work toward a more connected, family-centered healthcare system in Wisconsin.