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Advocacy & Parenting Information

Safe Kids Central Ohio

Provides car seat checkups, safety workshops and sports clinics that help parents and caregivers prevent childhood injuries. Visit their website for a list of car seat inspection locations.
240 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 645-1667
Car Seat Inspection Sites: safekids.org/coalition/safe-kids-central-ohio
Main Website: safekids.org

Sparks Parenting Videos for Parents & Text Updates on What to Expect at Doctor Visits

Created by Mount Sinai Parenting Center, Sparks is a parent video series for parents of children from birth through 5 years of age. Sparks provides information to parents about safety, sleep, nutrition, parent-child bonding, development and growth. This information is available in Spanish as well. You can also sign up to receive these videos by text! Parents will receive automatic text updates with your next video link as your child grows.
Text SPARKS to (844) 650-1210
sparksvideoseries.com/watch-now

Action for Children

Provides child care and early learning information free of charge for parents and caregivers; and provide professional support to child care providers. They also offer year-round parenting classes for parents with kids of all ages throughout Central Ohio, provide information about choosing quality child care, help people who operate home-based childcare, and offer a family-focused kindergarten-readiness program.

78 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 224-0222 in English & Spanish or (855) 302-4453 Toll-free
(800) 750-0750 PTDD/Ohio Relay Service
actionforchildren.org
afclearning.org

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Healthy Children

The website has information on a wide range of health topics, including safety, fitness, school issues, dating, substance abuse; emotional wellness, including helping children handle stress, psychiatric medications, grief. It also provides information about healthy living, family life, immunizations, developmental stages and more.
healthychildren.org

BabySignLanguage.com

Baby sign language is a way for all parents to improve early infant communication and communicate with children before they can actually speak. This website is full of free resources, including free videos, flash cards and tutorials.
(855) 827-5275
babysignlanguage.com

BOLD Beginning! Ohio Early Childhood Programs

Anyone with young children in their life can use this website to learn about Ohio’s state early childhood programs, resources and agencies. There is helpful information about developmental milestones, screenings, emotional wellness tips, healthy pregnancy and more.
boldbeginning.ohio.gov
Child Care Search: childcaresearch.ohio.gov

Bright by Text

Sends free games, tips, and resources right to your cell phone. Messages are targeted to your child’s age and include information on child development, language, early literacy, health, safety, behavioral tips and more.
Text: BRIGHT to 274448
*Message & data rates apply. Text STOP to 274448 to stop. Text HELP to 274448 for help.
brightbytext.org

CDC Development Tracker

Download the free development tracker to follow a child’s normal development from age 2 months old to 5 years. Get tips from CDC for encouraging your child’s development; and find out what to do if you are ever concerned about how your child is developing.
cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones-app.html

Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Program

CCAMPIS program authorized by the Higher Education Act and administered by the U.S. Department of Education, supports the participation of low-income parents in college through the provision of childcare services for children 6 weeks to 12 years old. Along with childcare they are provided with priority scheduling, mentoring/coaching and referrals to connect you and your family to university and community resources and services.
84 North Seventeenth Street, Columbus, Ohio 43203
(614) 292-8936
odi.osu.edu/ccampis

Choose Your Partner Carefully

Franklin County Children Services and the Center for Family Safety and Healing at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have worked together to help inform people how to choose a partner who will be safe and helpful around their children. For more tips for parents and guardians click the link below.
vimeo.com/ctvcolumbus/review/541712751/fa0118b12d

Common Sense

  • Common Sense Media is a non-profit organization that offers age-based and educational ratings and reviews for movies, games, apps, TV shows, websites, books, and music.
  • Common Sense Education provides free resources, including ratings and reviews of digital tools, a comprehensive K–12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum, ready-made lesson plans, videos, webinars, and more.
  • Common Sense Kids Action is their advocacy platform.

commonsense.org

Community Mediation Services (CMS) of Central Ohio

Offers an alternative to the court system by providing an impartial mediator who helps work out conflicts. They provide problem-solving services for domestic and family issues, divorce, neighborhood conflicts, tenant-landlord disputes to prevent eviction, workplace issues and consumer rights disputes. Services are offered on a sliding fee scale.
67 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 228-7191
communitymediation.com

Fussy Baby Network

Helps families struggling with their infants’ crying, sleeping or feeding. Just call their warmline for free and an infant specialist will answer. Services are available in English and Spanish. Visit the website for contact hours.
Erikson Institute
451 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60654
Warmline: (888) 431-2229
erikson.edu/services/fussy-baby-network/

Grandfamilies.org

Provides national resources in support of grandfamilies within and outside the child welfare system. You can find information on current and pending laws, adoption, financial help, special guardian options and more. Visit GrandFacts for connections to local supports, resources, programs and benefits.
grandfamilies.org

Help Me Grow (HMG) Home Visiting Program

Program: Prenatal support, parenting education, developmental screenings and linkage to community resources through home visiting services
Eligibility: women who are expecting and mothers whose first child is under six months old and meet income guidelines
Cost: no cost to families
Referral: a parent, guardian, home visiting provider or professional
Their website also has information about child health, children with special needs, school readiness, safety, resources by county and parent rights.
246 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Referral Line: (614) 656-3322 or (800) 755-4769
helpmegrow.ohio.gov
Central Intake and Referral Form: odhgateway.odh.ohio.gov/ochids/public/refer

Kinship Care Resource Kit

The Children’s Defense Fund has published a resource kit for kinship caregivers that provides information on topics such as cash assistance, child care and education programs, health care and coverage, as well as other issues important to relative caregivers. They also have other programs and they advocate for legislation on behalf of children.
395 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 221-2244
childrensdefense.org/policy/resources

Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) Health e-Hints Newsletter

A free e-newsletter written by pediatric specialists and customized to meet the health and safety needs of your family. When you enter the ages of your child(ren), you will only get articles that are relevant to your family.
nationwidechildrens.org/e-newsletter-sign-up

Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) Health Library

Find information on various health topics and about the disease, condition, medical procedure or test your child needs.
healthlibrary.nationwidechildrens.org
In Spanish: healthlibrary.nationwidechildrens.org/Spanish

Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles ID R Kids

Parents can apply for an Ohio ID card for their children. Parents of children who have an Ohio ID card can also add their contact information to their child’s record for use in the event the child becomes lost or is reported missing.
1970 West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43223
(844) 644-6268
bmv.ohio.gov/dl-id-card.aspx

Ohio Children’s Alliance

Their website contains helpful resources relating to juvenile justice, foster care, adoption, kinship care (relatives and non-relatives raising children) and information for youth transitioning from the foster system to adulthood; as well as advocacy information.
2600 Corporate Exchange Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43231
(614) 461-0014
ohiochildrensalliance.org

Ohio Children’s Trust Fund (OCTF)

Provides statewide advocacy and funding for prevention of child abuse and neglect. They also offer resources for parents and professionals to gain deeper understandings of how to provide safe and healthy environments for children.
4200 East Fifth Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43219
(614) 387-5478
To report child abuse in Ohio, call (855) 642-4453
octf.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/octf

Ohio Department of Education (ODE) Family & Community Engagement

Helps parents understand what children are expected to learn in school and how to help them succeed, so families can choose a school for their child, get involved in their child’s learning and get information about learners with special needs and talents.
education.ohio.gov/Topics/Student-Supports/Family-and-Community-Engagement/Getting-Involved-with-your-Child-s-Learning

Ohio Family Care Association (OFCA)

They provide programs that educate, support, and advocate for adoptive, foster, kinship and respite families impacted by Ohio’s child protection system. They keep members informed about the latest news related to adoption and foster care.
303 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 222-2712
Warmline: (800) 228-3014
ofcaonline.org

Ohio State University (OSU) Extension: Ohioline

Provides access to hundreds of handouts and resources, covering a wide array of subjects such as agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, community development, and youth development.

2120 Fyffe Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210
(614) 292-6181
ohioline.osu.edu

Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center

Provides training to families to help them understand ways to support their child’s learning, emotional health and plans for the future. They also build professional training and tools for school leaders, teachers, and community partners.
1900 Kenny Road, Suite 1036, Columbus, Ohio 43210
(614) 688-1112
ohiofamiliesengage.osu.edu

Ohio’s Safe Havens for Newborns

Provides birth parents the option to leave an infant (up to 30 days old) with a medical worker in a hospital, a medical worker at a fire department or other emergency service organization, or a peace officer at a law enforcement agency. If the infant is left with a person at one of these places, and has not been abused, the parent will face no legal consequences for making this choice. Call the Help Me Grow hotline for information and advice.
Help Me Grow: (800) 755-4769
jfs.ohio.gov/safehavens

Ounce of Prevention

The online handouts have a lot of useful nutritional and developmental information for parents of newborns up to teens and the physicians that care for the child.
700 Children’s Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43205
(614) 722-4824 or (614) 644-7035
nationwidechildrens.org/ounce-of-prevention

Parents Encouraging Responsible Choices (PERC)

A group of teachers and parents in Dublin City Schools who provide education designed to keep youth safe and healthy. Underage drinking, internet safety, bullying and eating disorders are some of the topics they focus on. Presentations are free and open to the general public.
percdublin.org

Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

This website gives parents the tools they need to raise drug-free kids. It offers helpful advice, support from other parents and extensive information about drug and alcohol use. Text, call or email the free and confidential helpline. Visit the website for contact information.
drugfree.org

Pathways.org

Provides free information about early detection of developmental delays and the benefit of early therapy for children with delays. They also provide tools and resources to maximize all children’s motor, sensory, and communication development.
Toll-free Parent-Answered National Hotline: (800) 955-2445
pathways.org

Ready4K

An evidence-based text messaging program for parents/caregivers of children from birth to 3rd grade, provided at no cost. Each week, they text fun facts and easy tips to boost your child’s learning. The program is available in English, Spanish, and Arabic.
ready4k.parentpowered.com

Red Treehouse

This online resource supporting the physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of children and young adults, prenatal to age 25. The website helps families find resources, organizations and events to meet their specific needs and challenges. Users can customize profiles by location (counties within Ohio), age ranges and topics of interest.
10415 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106
redtreehouse.org

Sesame Street in the Communities

Offers providers and parents resources to help children thrive and deal with some common issues that affect children’s lives. Explore topics related to health and wellness, social-emotional skills, and school readiness.

sesamestreetincommunities.org
To view their additional toolkit: sesamestreet.org/toolkits

Zero to Three

Offers helpful information about behavior, development, care and education of infants in their first 3 years of life. Learn what to expect as your child grows and how to deal with challenging behaviors.
(800) 899-4301
zerotothree.org


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