Developmentally on Track
Young children are healthy, engaged learners who are socially and emotionally secure within nurturing families and communities. They meet key developmental milestones across health, learning, and social-emotional domains with equitable access to supports that help them flourish.
- Infant Toddler Developmental Services – Arbor Circle
Home-based program helping families strengthen parent-child bonds, build skills, and foster emotional security. Parents receive counseling and guidance on child development, behavior, and parenting challenges.
- Keep Early Education Positive (KEEP) – Arbor Circle
Partners with caregivers, teachers, and child care providers to support children ages 0–5 facing challenges in child care or preschool. Promotes positive social-emotional development and ensures successful early learning experiences.
- Early Childhood Navigation (Hands Connected) – Bethany Christian Services
Hands Connected provides culturally and linguistically responsive early childhood navigation support for expecting parents and families with children through age five in Kent County. Services include individualized community resource navigation and parent engagement opportunities that help reduce barriers and promote equitable access to resources that support healthy child development and school readiness.
- Baby Scholars – Corewell Health
A 10 -11-week home visiting program that empowers parents to become their child’s first teacher by turning everyday parent-child interactions into meaningful opportunities for learning, connection, and school readiness. Baby Scholars is focused on supporting Black and Latine families in the Grand Rapids area. A certified Parent Coach visits weekly to guide positive parent-child interactions that support language, social, and brain development. (5 months – 5 years old)
- Early Childhood Attachment Program – D.A. Blodgett - St. John’s
Supports caregivers and their young children to strengthen the parent-child relationship and promote healthy development. Offers parent-child interaction and play, guidance on child development, and specialized counseling for biological, foster, kinship, and adoptive families. Available to all families across Kent County. Families also have access to Little Feet Movement classes to further support development and attachment. (Prenatal – 5 years old)
- First Call – Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan (DSAWM)
Supports new and expectant parents with a child with Down Syndrome by connecting families with trained parent mentors, resources, and encouragement. Families receive guidance, peer support, and celebration materials to help them feel informed, welcomed, and supported.
- Exalta Health Dev. On Track – Exalta Health
Supports children ages 0–5 and their families through medical, dental, mental health, and navigation services that promote healthy development and well-being.
- Community Engagement – Family Futures
Peer-to-peer conversations that help parents and caregivers build resilience, strengthen relationships, and gain knowledge about parenting and child development. The program supports families in creating safe, nurturing environments where children can thrive.
- Bump, Birth, and Beyond – Grace’s Table
Supports young mothers (13 to 24-years-old) and their children through peer support, resource navigation, birth and postpartum care, parenting education, life skills groups, and connections to health care partners. The program helps families access preventative care, support healthy development, and build stable futures.
- Family Stability Program – Heart of West Michigan United Way
Supports families facing housing instability by helping prevent eviction and providing resources that promote housing stability. The program offers financial assistance, guidance, and support to help families remain safely housed.
- Bright Beginnings Home Visiting – Kent ISD
Provides parent coaching, activities, and support to help caregivers understand early child development, identify potential concerns, and build a strong foundation for later academic success. Services are available to all families across Kent County. (Prenatal–5 years old)
- Early Childhood Stabilization Services – Family Promise
Family Promise partners with the community to prevent family homelessness, provide safe shelter, and help families build a future filled with stability and hope. Early Childhood Stabilization Services helps families divert from shelter, achieve housing stability through in-home case management, and support young children and their caregivers.
- Family Literacy for Early Childhood Centers – Literacy Center of West Michigan
Provides contextualized English-language literacy instruction for parents of young children to navigate early childhood development and preliteracy education.
- Breastfeeding-Friendly Child Care Initiative - Michigan Breastfeeding Network Supports child care providers in creating breastfeeding-friendly environments that support families and promote health. The program provides education, resources, and practical strategies related to human milk handling and storage, responsive feeding, communication with families, and breastfeeding-supportive policies and practices.
- SHM Dev. On Track – Safe Haven Ministries
Supports mothers and young children impacted by domestic violence and/or human trafficking through safe housing, resource navigation, parent-child engagement activities, and other services that promote safety, stability, and well-being.
- Little Scholars Program – Vibrant Futures
One-on-one coaching in families’ homes to help parents and caregivers understand responsive parenting, provide positive interactions, and learn about child development. Services are available to all families across Kent County. (Birth – 5 years old)
- Child and Family Advocate Program – YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids
Supports families of children in early education through one-on-one guidance. Advocates work with local partners to strengthen families and enhance early learning experiences.