Outreach and Navigation

Ready by Five millage funding has allowed for the creation of an Outreach and Navigation network by developing a multi-agency strategy to reach and engage families in a coordinated way. 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 track 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’s development and connect the family to community resources.

• Through an extensive network of community partnerships, Health Net of West Michigan , offers outreach, consultation, and care coordination to ensure parents fully access community resources for basic needs, health care, and early childhood programs.
  
• Child Care Navigation through Kent ISD works with families to find the right child carechild carer them. Child care navigators discuss needs and preferences with families and then direct them to quality, licensed child care providers that match the criteria have current space available.