Local Child Development Support Services
Help Me Grow is a county-wide system that supports children and their families by providing free developmental screenings and linkages to services that promote optimal growth.
Any child ages birth through 5 years old who is a SLO County resident is eligible. All services are provided free of charge. Contact SLO Help Me Grow:
(805) 544-4355 x282 slohmg@capslo.org slohelpmegrow.org Help Boost the Importance of Well Child Visits!In California, 70% of children with developmental delays aren't detected until the child enters kindergarten. When developmental delays are identified early, interventions are more effective and yield greater life-long outcomes.
Please encourage families to schedule their well-child checkups and request a developmental screening with their well-child visits. Graphics like the one below can be found here and incorporated into your organization's social marketing. 
Financial Relief for FamiliesParents who didn’t file taxes can still receive child tax credits!In July, millions of families will begin receiving six monthly payments of as much as $300 per child from the IRS. The payments are a partial advance of the expanded child tax credit that would normally be claimed on next year’s tax return. But to help families pay bills now, they will get half of the credit early.
Most families will receive these payments automatically as a direct deposit or a check in the mail. Families can check their status, update bank account information, and opt out of advance payments here. Parents didn't file taxes? Some low-income parents did not file taxes. If the IRS does not have their information, they will not receive child tax credits of up to $3,600 per child. The solution? A new IRS website lets parents who are not required to file taxes claim their child tax credit. More information is available through these two sites: Advance Child Tax Credit eligibility assistant: https://apps.irs.gov/app/ctceligible/ Child Tax Credit FAQs: https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-frequently-asked-questions For free online filing: myfreetaxes.org Note: Tax credits, like the CalEITC and EITC, are not considered public benefits under the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services public charge rule. |
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Looking for basic needs help?Contact an advocate or staff member at a Family Resource Center for support with non-medical needs such as food, clothing, shelter, parent education and navigating social services. A full listing of Family Resource Centers in San Luis Obispo County can be found here: https://sloparents.org/slo-frc-directory/
Watch out for scams. Whenever there is money, there are scammers. Warn families that they don’t need any help getting this IRS credit. If someone calls, texts, or emails and suggests they can “get you the Advance Child Tax Credit payments by working with the IRS on your behalf,” it’s a scam!
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The Health Access Training Project is a project of First 5 of San Luis Obispo County which advocates for quality programs and services to support children from prenatal to age five, ensuring that every child is healthy and ready to learn in school.