In this episode of The Critical Window: Brain Building in the First Three Years, we sit down with MaryAnn Bickerstaff and Teresa Zwierzchowski from The Arc Gateway in Pensacola. They lead Help Me Grow Escambia, a free early intervention program funded by the Escambia Children’s Trust and powered through a partnership with Help Me Grow Florida. Help Me Grow Escambia provides free developmental, behavioral, and educational screenings for children, along with personalized care coordination and referrals to trusted local services. Families can also access free autism evaluations through the Pearl Nelson Center using the gold-standard ADOS tool. With support from programs like Help Me Grow Escambia, more children are getting the early support they need to thrive. It’s a natural extension of our mission at Build a Brain, Build a Life, Build a Community. We inform, support and equip parents at birth, offering tools to begin brain-building from day one. Help Me Grow continues that journey by guiding families through early development, connecting them with the right support at the right time. 🧠 In this episode, you’ll hear: • Why early intervention in the first three years leads to stronger school readiness • How Infant Toddler Developmental Specialists support families through developmental challenges • How partnerships and funding in Escambia County are helping families access care • How Help Me Grow Escambia is creating a model of support for early childhood development ⤵ Learn more about Help Me Grow below: 🔗 Help Me Grow Escambia: https://arc-gateway.org/help-me-grow/ 🔗 Help Me Grow Florida: https://helpmegrowfl.org/getconnected/
