Outreach and Navigation

Outreach aims to increase the usage of early childhood programs and community resources by engaging future parents and families with young children who are not currently involved or aware of available services. As needs are identified, navigation helps address barriers to accessing services, information, and resources. 

• Family Futures Connections Program helps families follow their child's milestones at home through developmental screenings and then provides monthly activities and age-specific materials to promote the child's learning and growth. Through Connections, each family can also access a Family Support Navigator to answer questions about their child and connect the family to community resources.  
  
• Health Net of West Michigan offers outreach, consultation, and care coordination to parents who need help accessing community resources for basic needs, health care, and early childhood programs.  
  
• Child Care Navigation - This resource is “under development” for 2024. The goal of this program is to provide up-to-date information about the current child care openings available in Kent County. Kent ISD will help families find key information about child care providers that best meet their needs and preferences (location, hours, quality levels).