Resources for Parents, Educators & School Administrators
As a mom, early childhood advocate, and former preschool director, it is very important to have a list of resources at your fingertips. Below are the resources I have come along over the years that are helpful typically and non-typically developing children. This list is by no means exhaustive, but a good place to start. If you have further information to add, please share the wealth.
USA:
1. www.Pathways.org Free tools to maximize child development 1-800-955-CHILD (2445) friends@pathways.org
2. National Association of Education for Young Children www.naeyc.org Resources for early education for families and educators
3. Work and pump www.workandpump.org Information on how to work and pump breast milk and your rights to do so.
California:
1. www.cdc.gov/actearly and www.cdc.gov/milestonesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention 1-800-CDC-INFO 1-800-232-4636 you can request a free “learn the signs. Act early” parent kit and also get help to finding resources in your area. This kit gives detail information of what babies should be doing at specific ages as well as ideas on how to help your baby’s development in that specific age range.
2. Children and Family Services Branch 916-654-2773
3. www.dds.ca.gov/earlystart "California Early Start is an interagency system of coordinated early intervention services administered by the Department of Developmental Services in collaboration with the California Department of Education." You can request a central directory of Early Intervention Resources for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and their Families. Early Start Baby Line 800-515-baby
4. Regional Centers: Alta California(916-978-6249), Central Valley(559-276-4300), Eastern LA(626-299-4700), Far Northern(530-222-4791 x3340), Frank D. Lanterman(213-383-1300), Golden Gate(415-546-9222 x2636), Harbor Regional(310-540-1711), Inland Regional(909-890-4711), Kern Regional(661-327-8531), North Bay((707-256-1100), North Los Angeles(818-778-1900), Redwood Coast(707-445-0893 x335), Regional Center of the East Bay(510-383-1200), Regional Center of Orange County(714-796-5100), San Andreas(408-374-9960), San Diego(858-496-4318), San Gabriel/Pomona(909-620-7722), South Central(213-744-7000), Tri-Counties(800-322-6994), Valley Mountain209-473-0951), Westside(310-258-4096)
5. Newborn Hearing Screening Program: 916-322-5794 www.dhcs.ca.gov/services
6. California Department of Social Services 916-657-2598 www.dss.cahwnet.gov
7. WestEd Center for Prevention and Early Intervention: 916-492-4011 www.wested.org/cpei
8. Child Care Health Program: 1800-333-3212 www.ucsfchildcarehealth.org Healthline offers a number for child care providers and families staffed by public health nurses with consultation from specialist in the following areas: nutrition, infant development, mental health, special needs and car seat safety.
Southern California (Los Angeles area):
1. Find the Children: Free stranger safety programs for schools. Introduces stranger safety in a simple and age appropriate manner. findthechildren.com 310-314-3213
2. LADOT Los Angeles Department of Transportation: offers a free school bicycle safety & transit education program 818-786-4614
3. Grossman Burn Center: teaches about burn prevention and they give out a free children’s book about burn safety that is great for early learners 818-986-2876
4. Child Care Resource Center https://www.ccrcca.org/ 1-866-67-4KIDS website@ccrcca.org They have locations in the San Fernando Valley, Antelope Valley, San Bernardino, & Victorville. This is a resource for parents and educators to get information about free and low cost classes and services for children.
5. Environmental Defenders: Free show on protecting the environment dwp.la.county.gov
6. CDI: Child Development Institute: Free behavioral screenings, indoor playground and services to families and educators.
7. Parents Education League of Los Angeles: Objective guidance for parents and their school-aged children www.parentseducationaleague.org 310-441-0684
8. Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles https://www.ccala.net/ Free resources for families and educators
9. Office of Head Start https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ohs provide grants and funding to private schools.
10. Los Angeles Universal Preschool child360.org providing education quality in early education and resources for families and educators.
11. First 5 LA https://www.first5la.org/ resources for early childhood education and training for families and parents