Parenting Education Programs

Parent Education and Support programs help parents and caregivers gain knowledge and skills to support their children’s health, development, and learning. Services include parent education through home visiting, translation services, and additional resources to ensure families have access to the support they need across all ages and community needs.

Home Visiting Services
Trained professionals, such as nurses or parent educators, provide support and information to parents in the home or another comfortable location chosen by the family. Ready by Five funds multiple home visiting programs to ensure a continuum of support for families from prenatal through early childhood.

  • Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP) – Cherry Health
    Enhanced by Ready by Five funding, MIHP provides nutrition and lactation consultation for expecting and new parents. Services are offered at home, in the office, or in the community. Families must be current patients of Cherry Health to participate. (Prenatal – 2 years old)

  • Strong Beginnings – Corewell Health
    Supports pregnant and postpartum Black and Latinx parents through education, discussion groups, counseling, breastfeeding cafes, and referrals. A fatherhood initiative serves male partners. Services are offered at home or other convenient locations by culturally responsive community health workers. (Prenatal – 2 years old)

  • Postpartum Support – MomsBloom
    Provides hands-on, in-home support to parents after bringing home a newborn. Services may include discussion of postpartum resources, care for babies and their siblings, and light housework. Services are available to all families across Kent County. (Birth – 6 months 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. (Prenatal – 5 years old)

  • Bright Beginnings Home Visiting – Kent ISD
    Provides proven methods 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)

  • Baby Scholars – Corewell Health
    A 10 - 11-week home visiting program designed to strengthen the bond between parents and children using responsive caregiving. A certified Parent Coach meets with parents weekly to guide and support them with positive parent-child interactions that support language and literacy , social-emotional, and healthy brain development. Serving all families across Kent County with a focused commitment on serving Black and Hispanic/Latinx families. (Birth – 5 years old)

  • Little Scholars Program – Vibrant Futures
    One-on-one coaching in families’ or child care providers' 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)

Translation & Interpretation Services
Ready by Five funds translation and interpretation for all millage-supported programs. Bethany Christian Services and the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan provide written translation, phone and video interpretation, and in-person language support for families.

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