September 7, 2018
Hagåtña – Help will be just a phone call away for parents and childcare givers alike as the Help Me Grow (HMG) system launches the “Neni 3-1-1” phone line that will assist with concerns about children’s health, development, behavior, and child learning.
First Lady Christine Calvo, Guam Early Learning Council Co-Chair, is excited about the launch and stated, “Earlier this year, we reached out to GTA calling on their expertise and support in accessing the 3-1-1-phone line and developing it as the Help Me Grow ‘warm line.’ This line is meant to serve as a way for parents or anyone in the community, to call and speak with a professional about support services available for their young children.”
For the past two years the GELC, in partnership with the Division of Public Health within the Department of Public Health & Social Services, and the Department of Education’s Guam Early Intervention System, has been working towards implementing the Help Me Grow system model on our island. The HMG system will support in the early detection of developmental and behavioral challenges in young children, ages birth to 5 years old, who are at-risk and connects them with community-based programs focused on providing health and developmental services.
“We, the Early Learning Council, want to ensure that all of Guam’s young children have healthy minds, bodies and spirits and we recognize that parents are key to their child’s development,” said Early Learning Council Co-Chair Elaine Eclavea. “Neni 3-1-1 provides parents the resource to monitor their child’s development and make sure their child is on track.”
The Neni 3-1-1 call center will mirror the national Help Me Grow initiative and will employ Care Coordinators who are specially trained to help callers understand developmental milestones and the importance of monitoring milestones and ensuring that children are developing on track; the importance of regular developmental screening for supporting children’s growth and identifying challenges; and connecting children to services and supports.
Through the implementation of the 3-1-1 line, data collection will also become available for analysis and will help in compiling statistical data for Guam’s children.
The warm line was made possible through the partnership and support from GTA. Roland Certeza, GTA President and Chief Executive Officer, says, “GTA is an advocate for using the power of technology, services, and expertise to enrich the lives and communities on Guam. The establishment of the Neni line connects families with the resources they need to support the health and developmental services for our children which falls in line with our company’s mission and core values.”
The Neni 3-1-1 warm-line and call center is available beginning Friday September 7, 2018 and will be operational Monday through Friday from 8:00am – 5:00pm, closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and Government of Guam holidays.
