A Step Ahead in Pierce County:
A Step Ahead in Pierce County supports families of infants and toddlers with special needs.
Offers home visits and peer groups to Pierce County children aged birth to three with developmental delays or who are in foster care. Enhances child development and relationships, both at home and in their community.
Call:  (253) 471-2727
www.asapc.org
 
Bates Technical College Home & Family Life Department:
Bates Technical College Home & Family Life Department serves child care centers, cooperative preschools, parenting, and childbirth programs. Provides resource center for parents and caregivers who want to make sure the children in their care are ready to succeed when they start school.
Call:  (253) 680-7500
www.bates.ctc.edu/homefamily

Bethel School District Early Childhood:
Bethel School District Early Childhood works in partnership with families and the community to enhance the abilities and skills of the whole child, including social, physical, intellectual, communication, and emotional development. We believe:
  • All children are capable of learning and have individual needs, skills, and talents.
  • Children learn best in a setting that reflects the diversity of the community.
  • Children learn best as active participants in co-operative, play-based experiences.
  • Children learn best through experiences that enhance their self-esteem, help them make choices, and develop competencies.
  • Children learn best using a unified, developmentally appropriate curriculum, utilizing child-centered teaching practices and support services.
Boys and Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound:
Boys & Girls Clubs of America has a lineup of proven and nationally-recognized programs that address today’s most pressing youth issues, teaching young people the skills they need to succeed in life. More than 25 national programs are available in the areas of education, the environment, health, the arts, careers, alcohol/drug and pregnancy prevention, gang prevention, leadership development, and athletics.

Children’s Home Society
Children’s Home Society provides a variety of services for children and families across the state. Services include adoption, mental health services, reunification, early learning (Early Head Start, Head Start, Parents as Teacher, court-based drop-in child care), family support services, Family Support Centers, out of home care, and advocacy.
Call: (253) 850-2584
www.childrenshomesociety.org

Children’s Museum of Tacoma:
The Children’s Museum of Tacoma’s exhibits and programs celebrate the power and importance of play in a child’s healthy development. A visit to the Children’s Museum of Tacoma transports you and your child to a world of imaginative play and creative discovery. Come connect with your child through play at the Children’s Museum of Tacoma’s free, neighborhood-based program, Play to Learn, at eight locations throughout Pierce County weekly.
Call: (253) 627-6031
www.ChildrensMuseumofTacoma.org

Clover Park Technical College:
Clover Park Technical College offers certificate and degree programs in Early Care and Education. Certificate programs include: Leadership, School Age, Foundation, Green Program, Sustaining a Green Program, and Early Care and Education Specialist. Evening classes available. Hayes Child Development Center, located on the Clover Park Technical College Campus, is a NAEYC-accredited program.
Call: (253) 589-5574
www.cptc.edu

Franklin Pierce Schools:
Franklin Pierce Schools promotes kindergarten readiness, which includes social, physical, emotional, and pre-academic skills. Programs, educational tools, and resources for children aged birth to five and their parents include free “READY! for Kindergarten” classes for parents of 2, 3 and 4-year-old children, free Head Start program for 3 and 4-year-old low-income children, and free screening for all 3 to 5-year-old children living within the district. A team of specialists, including a school psychologist, a speech-language pathologist, an occupational therapist, and an educational specialist, screens young children in coordination, behavior, speech/language skills, hearing, and school readiness skills.
Call: (253) 298-3000
www.fpschools.org

HopeSparks:
HopeSparks provides counseling and educational services to address issues including: abuse, divorce/anger management, depression, early childhood development, and marriage crisis. The mission of HopeSparks, a nonprofit, human service agency located in Pierce County, is to strengthen families by inspiring courage and confidence to make lasting change.
Call: (253) 565.4484
www.hopesparks.org

Joint Base Lewis-McChord Child and Youth Services:
Joint Base Lewis-McChord provides quality child and youth development options through Child, Youth and School Services (CYSS). It is a network of systems and programs reducing the conflict between parental responsibilities and unit mission requirements. CYSS includes full-day, part-day and hourly child care programs; before- and after-school care programs; middle and teen programs; family child care; team sports and outreach sports programs; and resource and referral for on-and off-post.
Call: (253) 967-3056

KBTC Public Television:
KBTC Public Television provides Pierce County parents, teachers, and caregivers with PBS resources that help children develop a lifelong love of learning. Builds and promotes partnerships with community organizations, childcare networks, schools, libraries, and government agencies while also:

  • Broadcasting 9.5 hours of children’s educational programming each weekday.
  • Delivering parent educational messages between programs.
  • Developing and presenting workshops and events to help parents, teachers, and caregivers use television as a positive force in children’s lives.
  • Advocating for and raising awareness of early care and education issues.
Call: (253) 680-7700
www.kbtc.org

Kids at Hope:
Kids at Hope creates a positive culture through strategies, activities, and trainings that engage all youth workers, educators, and parents. Research shows that kids will succeed if they are surrounded by adults who believe in them, if they have meaningful relationships with caring adults, and if they can articulate their future beyond just a job and career. This ability is called hope!
Call: (253) 502-4659
www.kidsathope.org

Metropolitan Development Council:
The Metropolitan Development Council (MDC) is a nonprofit Community Action Partnership. MDC offers services in over 40 programs through education, family services, drug and alcohol treatment, housing, homeless services, prevention, and economic and career development. Provides individualized help to clients who need assistance in more than one area of their lives. Efficient communication, referral, and case management services ensure clients receive the most comprehensive and effective care.
Call: (253) 383-3921
www.mdc-tacoma.org

Parent First:
In the future, Parent First will provide comprehensive, community-wide parenting skills training in three modules. The Neighborhood Module is guided by an on-site counselor, with peer mentoring. The School Module is formal parenting instruction beginning in grade 5 and leading to a Certification of Parenting Competence. The Centers of Higher Education Module is offered through universities and community colleges, which prepare parent competency coursework leading to certification of a parenting coach.
Call: (253) 588-9810

Pierce College:
Pierce College District 11 is two community colleges and an extended learning program. Programs include:
  • Transfer courses parallel to the first two years of university and four-year college work.
  • Vocational degree and certificate programs in a variety of job fields.
  • Developmental, basic skills and high school completion courses.
  • Personal and professional development through continuing education courses.
  • Traditional and nontraditional learning opportunities.
Call: (253) 964-6500 (Pierce College Fort Steilacoom), (253) 840-8400 (Pierce College Puyallup), or (253) 912-3602 (Pierce College Extended Learning

Pierce County Library System:
Pierce County Library System supplies rich resources, like free books, music, DVDs, and magazines for parents and caregivers. Knowledgeable librarians and staff help families find what they are looking for. Children and families get free programs year-around. Child care centers and family child care homes get free STARS classes and book delivery.
Call: (253) 536-6500
www.piercecountylibrary.org

Puget Sound Educational Services District:
Puget Sound Educational Services District develops and delivers a wide selection of services for ages birth through 21.  These include helping schools and serving students and families directly. Sometimes services are free. Types of services offered to children and those who care for them: infant and preschool programs; comprehensive education, health, nutrition, and social services; involvement and job readiness opportunities for parents; training and support for the child care community; programs for students with special needs; services for children with vision issues, hearing loss, and deaf-blindness.
Call: (253) 778-7800
www.psesd.org

Puyallup Public Library:
Puyallup Public Library offers free story times for young children and free programs for all ages throughout the year. Lots of books, movies, music, puppets, and much more available for check-out.

Puyallup Tribe of Indians:
The Puyallup Indians have lived along the shores of Puget Sound for thousands of years. Tribal members play vital roles in many aspects of life in the Puget Sound region. The Puyallup Tribe’s Birth to Six Program promotes the development of healthy children in our community by strengthening the critical roles of parents, families, and professionals by giving all of our children the best possible start in life. Birth to Six provides child development screening, culturally-relevant family resource coordination, information and referral, and direct early intervention services. Those eligible are Indian children between birth to five years of age, who are enrolled in a federally recognized Tribe. Families must reside within the service area of the Puyallup Tribe.
Call: (253)572-6061
www.puyallup-tribe.com

The Tacoma City Association of Colored Women’s Clubs:
The Tacoma City Association of Colored Women’s Clubs promotes and improves the education, health, and cultural awareness of all citizens, so that lives and relationships are improved and the quality of the community is enhanced.In spite of the name, the Association is not restricted to any racial or ethnic group. McCarver Moms,a program of the Tacoma City Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, focuses on parenting classes, parent support and mentoring, conflict resolution and interpersonal life-skills, community resource information, social service referrals, tutoring, and educational play for children.
Call: (253) 627 9777
www.Tacomacwc.org

Tacoma Community College:
Tacoma Community College offers more than 40 study areas and 60 professional and technical degrees and certificates to choose from. Smaller class sizes. Certificates and degrees in early care and education. Online courses for child care providers. Annette B. Weyerhaeuser Early Learning Center is committed to high quality care for its young students.
Call: (253) 566-5001 (South Tacoma Campus) or (253) 460-2424 (Gig Harbor Campus)
www.tacomacc.edu

Tacoma Learning Center (HopeSparks):
Tacoma Learning Center is a HopeSparks program dedicated to providing inclusive family-centered education programs and therapy to infants and young children. Offers in-home specialized teaching for children with developmental delays, on-site play groups, and parent education.
Call: (253) 565-4887
www.hopesparks.org

Tacoma-Pierce County Child Care Resource & Referral (City of Tacoma):
Tacoma-Pierce County Child Care Resource & Referral gives free telephone and on-line referrals of licensed child care. Also available: information on how to choose quality care and general information about child care in Pierce County. Professional development and on-site help given to licensed child care providers.
Call: (253) 591-2025 or 1-888-370-6133
www.cityoftacoma.org/childcare

Tacoma Public Schools:
Tacoma Public Schools offers many free preschool options for qualifying families including Head Start, ECEAP, Title I preschool, Montessori preschool, and Special Education preschool. Several Special Education preschools, as well as Montessori preschool at Bryant Elementary, provide preschool for a fee. Free full-day kindergarten provided at all schools.
Call: (253) 571-1870
www.tacomaschools.org

YMCA of Pierce-Kitsap Counties:

www.ymcapkc.org