Help Me Grow WNY

Advocating for families doesn’t stop at the county line 📣

Last month, Kim Stewart, Director of Help Me Grow Western New York, and Heidi Ann Milch, Executive Director of CCNY, Inc., sat down with Adam Fogel, Chief of Staff to Congressman Tim Kennedy, to talk about the barriers families across Western New York face when trying to access support for their children.

The conversation centered on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the real gaps that show up when families try to navigate it, along with the partnerships that could help close those gaps. It’s the kind of work that doesn’t always make headlines but shapes whether a child gets connected to support early or falls through the cracks.

If you weren't able to make our pop-up screening this past April, now is your chance to stop by Explore & More - The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children's Museum with your little one for a free developmental screening facilitated by Help Me Grow WNY!

Next Friday, May 29th, register your child for a quick questionnaire that will help you gauge how your little is developing AND will allow you free admission to the museum. This is a great opportunity to have fun with the family while also accessing important resources that directly benefit your child's growth.

This event will be taking place from 11am to 2pm, so make sure you register or share this opportunity within your networks or with any family who may benefit.

We hope to see you there!

You make a referral to help a family. Then... crickets. Did they connect? You’ll probably never know.

FindHelp is solving that problem. It’s a closed-loop referral system where families can find services by zip code, and providers can actually track whether referrals land.

Here’s the catch: your organization needs to be claimed in the system, or you’re invisible to families searching for help.

Join us this Thursday afternoon for free office hours with FindHelp. Learn how to claim your org, list your programs correctly, and start receiving referrals that don’t fall through the cracks.

Link to the meeting is in our bio!🔗

Serious about children. Serious about learning. Less serious about our outfits! NY Association for the Education of Young Children - 2026 Annual Conference.