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.
www.asapc.org
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.
www.childrenshomesociety.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.
www.jblmmwr.com/CYS.htm
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.
www.mdc-tacoma.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
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 Health Department:
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department enhances personal and community health by controlling contagious diseases, protecting drinking water and food supplies, preventing illness and death caused by behavior choices, dealing with public health emergencies and natural disasters, and also strengthening families. Family Support Centers located in almost every area of Pierce County. Each Family Support Center helps families learn about: healthy pregnancy, how young children grow, how to help a child learn, and parenting skills. Family Support Centers also help families find resources for food, clothing, and housing.
Call: (253) 798-6543
Support for parents, including Family Support Center list:
www.tpchd.org/health-wellness-1/pregnancy-parenting/support-parents/
Nurse Family Partnership visits:
www.tpchd.org/health-wellness-1/pregnancy-parenting/nurse-family-partnership-program/
Pregnant? To be visited by a public health nurse:
www.tpchd.org/health-wellness-1/pregnancy-parenting/