A Note from Help Me Grow Skagit's Physician Champion

Dr. Francie Chalmers

Welcome to the Fall newsletter!

Based on your feedback from our June event, we began work over the summer to prepare for a new CME series that will begin early 2024. We have some exciting topics and speakers that we will share with you soon! In the meantime, join us on October 25th for an online event on Family-Engaged Developmental Monitoring. More information below. Then continue scrolling to learn about our online referral form to help connect families more easily to supports available through Help Me Grow Skagit, like food assistance, insurance, and other basic needs. Also included are resources to share with families to help support parenting and child development.

As HMG Skagit’s “Physician Champion” please remember that I am available to help facilitate connections between your practice and community support services. I can be reached anytime with questions and feedback at fchalmers.md@gmail.com.

Upcoming CME Event

Join us for this virtual event on October 25th from 6:00-7:30pm. Click on the flyer to be taken to the event page for more information and to register. This event is free, but registration is required to receive the link.

Register HERE or scan the QR code

Check out the Healthcare Providers page on the Help Me Grow Skagit website to refer families, prenatal through early childhood, for family resource and navigation services. Forms can be submitted online or printed and faxed. Once a referral is submitted, Gaby Camarena, the HMG Family Resource Navigator, will connect with the family and schedule necessary follow-ups. If selected on the online form, Gaby will follow up with the referring provider to give an update. Please note, the fields on the form that are indicated with an asterisk (*) are the only required fields to complete but the more information you can share the better.

Helpful Resources for You and Your Families

Bright by Text (BBT) provides helpful tips and advice from parenting experts to help make raising kids easier, right to your phone! It's for parents of children from pregnancy up to age 9. BBT curates content from trusted experts to support a whole child, whole family approach to early childhood. Families can sign up by texting SKAGIT to 274448. They will receive free activities, games and resources, as well as local messages about Skagit happenings! Download a English/Spanish flyer here and learn more here. Contact us for a free supply of Skagit BBT and Vroom bookmarks in English and Spanish.

The Center for Disease Control and Preventions's (CDC's) Learn the Signs. Act Early. program aims to improve early identification of children with autism and other developmental disabilities so children and families can get the services and support they need.

From birth to 5 years, a child should reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move. Share the free app with families that can help them monitor progress.

More information and tons of free resources to use with families on the Learn the Signs website here.

Fathering in 15 is an online learning experiences made just for dads! It's an interactive, online tool that helps men build the knowledge and skills they need to be the best dads they can be, anytime, anywhere! There are 15 topics that are 15 minutes each. There's no need to sign up to start, just visit the Help Me Grow Skagit Fathering in 15 site here.

Brazelton Touchpoints Center is offering a virtual 3-hour interactive workshop to demonstrate the roadmap's seven simple steps to engage parents and other caregivers in understand and planning for their child's developmental needs. You'll learn how to use the Development is a Journey Conversations Roadmap strategies for honoring families' knowledge of their child and engaging in collaborative conversations - especially when providers and families have different opinions about the child's development.

DATE: October 17th TIME: 10AM - 1PM PT FEE: $85 REGISTRATION: HERE

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