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Help Me Grow Model: 25 Years of Service to Families By Paul Dworkin, MD: The Help Me Grow (HMG) Model is celebrating a milestone anniversary in 2022 – having spent the past 25 years helping children and families in Connecticut and across the country thrive. The HMG Model is an early childhood system building model that partners with families to

5 Reasons Not To Delay Your Child's Vaccines By Andrew Carlson, MD: This blog was originally published in 2022 and has been updated as of October 13, 2025 to reflect current times. We continue to stress how important it is for kids to get their routine childhood vaccines according to the recommended schedule, which is based on rigorous scientific

Make Every Bite Count! By Nancy Trout, MD: By: Nancy Trout, MD, MPH Most Americans do not follow a healthy dietary pattern. This is the conclusion of the recently released 2020-2025 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The theme of this edition is “make every bite count.” This edition

16 Comfort Items to Bring to Your Child’s Doctor Appointment There are a few tried-and-true ways to prepare your child for a doctor’s visit: Talk about it ahead of time. Pretend through play. Practice calming exercises like making a coping toolbox. Best of all? Bring a few comfort items! (Your child will love this step.) Put your child in

"My Friend Has Cancer:" Helping Adolescents and Young Adults Cope By Mary Laliberte: Normally, adolescents and young adults first experience cancer from older relatives who have been diagnosed. But what happens when a peer gets diagnosed with cancer? Mary Laliberte, Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Connecticut Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders

Connecting the Dots: Care Coordination By Katherine Ramirez: By: Katherine Ramirez During this time of unprecedented hardships facing so many families, there is also tremendous opportunity for those who serve children and families to rise to the challenge and meet their needs. Connecticut Children’s 4th annual Care Coordination Forum

Beyond Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome: One Year Later By Timothy Crombleholme, MD: It’s a typical morning at home with 1-year-old identical twins. Ben, who is older by a few seconds, is pulling silly faces and giggling. Renny is crying and clinging to mom Kaelyn — who is doing her best to prepare snacks with one arm, since Renny is occupying the other. “It’s

Diaper Connections Provides Crucial Support to Families By Luis Rivera: By: Luis Rivera, MSW Diapers are an incredible expense for families and many have a tough time affording the amount needed to keep their children clean and dry. An important new initiative addresses diaper insecurity and Connecticut Children’s is excited to be a partner in it to

What is Good Program Definition? By Scott Orsey: By: Scott Orsey Are you struggling to explain your program to potential supporters? Is your program a wild success and worthy of replication, but others just don’t get it? Are you looking to put pen to paper and document your program definition? A quick internet search will turn

How to Talk to Kids About Scary or Tragic Events in the News By Robert D. Keder, MD: In the wake of the mass shooting on August 27, 2025 at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, MN, children will likely have many questions. In addition to seeing disturbing footage on the news and on social media, they are also likely picking up on the stress and sadness

4 Quick Tips to Help Kids Sleep Better and Wake Up Energized By Lynelle Schneeberg, PsyD: This article was originally published in August 2021 and last updated in December 2023. Good sleep is essential for a good school year: during the day, a well-rested child has an easier time focusing and behaving. At night, quality sleep allows their brain to organize and store

Help Me Grow Forum: “It’s Time to Stand Up for Our Kids!” By: Jacquelyn M. Rose, MPH and Joann Petrini, PhD, MPH The 10th annual Help Me Grow National Forum, co-hosted by the Help Me Grow National Center and Help Me Grow Western New York, featured three days of shared learning and inspiration around best practices to collectively

Healthy Food, Healthy Kids: The SCOR Initiative Against Food Insecurity By Nancy Trout, MD: "You are what you eat" is a saying that reflects the deep connection between food, nutrition, and health. Unfortunately, the rise of diet-related diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers, is driven by diets that are high in unhealthy

At the Forefront of Newborn Screening By Debbie Ellis, RN, BSN: By: Debbie Ellis, RN, BSN It’s a tiny prick on a newborn baby’s heel, but it can have a huge impact on the rest of their life. In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared newborn screening one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 21st century

Need Fetal Care for a High-Risk Pregnancy? 6 Factors to Consider By Timothy Crombleholme, MD: If you’ve just been told that your developing baby has a fetal condition that may require special expertise to be managed, you’re likely feeling all kinds of emotions. Your first instinct may be to search the web for information about this diagnosis and find the best fetal care