Help Me Grow Allegan

Play-and-Learns start TOMORROW in Martin! If you can't make this Allegan County Play-and-Learn, try one of our other Play-and-Learns in Fennville, Otsego, Plainwell, and Wayland.

Our first in-person Coffee Chat is today at 6:30pm at the Allegan District Library! Please join us to talk about the struggles of parenting and get support from others in a similar situation.
https://www.facebook.com/events/379887847176530

Our first in-person Coffee Chat is today at 6:30pm at the Allegan District Library! Please join us to talk about the struggles of parenting and get support from others in a similar situation.
https://www.facebook.com/events/379887847176530

Timeline Photos

Join us for a four week series about Conscious Discipline!

Our Head Start and Early Head Start program options all utilize Conscious Discipline in our day-to-day work. Conscious Discipline is an approach that focuses on creating a compassionate culture and helps adults understand behavior. This highly effective approach is proven to increase self-regulation, sense of safety, connection, empathy and intrinsic motivation in both children and adults! Topics will include Composure, Choices, Empathy, Consequences, and more!

Thursday evenings in October, starting October 7th, via Zoom from 7-8pm. Questions? Want to RSVP? Contact Carly Schultz at 269.512.2011 or [email protected].

The zoom link will be the same each evening:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89357083055...
Meeting ID: 893 5708 3055
Passcode: 20nNum

Timeline Photos

TOMORROW! September 28th from 10am-2pm we will be having another food commodity distribution day.

If you would like to receive a provision of grocery bags filled with non-perishable foods and meet our income eligibility, please visit us tomorrow at our main office!

269.673.5472

Timeline Photos

CAAC is starting a social networking group for pregnant women and new mothers!

Join us for "CAAC MUMs" to meet other expectant/new mothers. Our monthly meetings will be a time to connect, share advice, receive help with referrals, and education related to pregnancy and young children!

Take our interest survey here: http://ow.ly/AUmC50GdcKd

Martin & Hopkins' families, please join our FREE Books, Balls, and Blocks event next Friday, October 1st at Brandon Elementary School at 10am.

Martin & Hopkins' families, please join our FREE Books, Balls, and Blocks event next Friday, October 1st at Brandon Elementary School at 10am.

September Play-and-Learns may be over but October Play-and-Learns start next Friday! Mark your calendars. We have groups meeting in Martin, Fennville, Otsego, Plainwell, and Wayland at different times.

Early Childhood Providers don't forget to come to Allegan County Area Technical & Education Center's (ACATEC) parking lot Thursday, September 30th (5:30-7:30pm) for a FREE Take-and-Make kit with book and goodies from the SW Resource Center.

Early Childhood Providers don't forget to come to Allegan County Area Technical & Education Center's (ACATEC) parking lot Thursday, September 30th (5:30-7:30pm) for a FREE Take-and-Make kit with book and goodies from the SW Resource Center.

Timeline Photos

Our first parent education opportunity of the school year is coming up! Join us on September 22nd from 7pm-8:30pm for a Ready Rosie workshop! See the attached flyer for more information. We hope to see you there!

Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83748171866...
Meeting ID: 837 4817 1866
Passcode: knyzy4

Thank you everyone for visiting our Help Me Grow booth at the Allegan County Fairgrounds last week!

We are super excited to announce the winners of our (3) United Way Basket giveaways:
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Basket #1 (Let's Talk About Hands/Feet)- Amelia (from Hopkins)
Basket #2 (Let's Talk About Nature)- Nevaeh (from Otsego)
Basket #3 (Let's Talk About Food)- Kasper (from Plainwell)

Winners- Our Allegan County Parent Liaison will reach out to you
soon about getting your baskets.

The Allegan Aquatic Center is excited to announce our new Tot Spot Open Swim beginning September 27th! Every Monday & Thursday from 9-10am we are welcoming children ages 5 & under to have an hour of open play in our warm leisure pool, complete with a water slide, lazy river, and fountains.

Pre-registration will be required through our website, and will open on Wednesday of the week prior. We do ask that adults accompany their child(ren) in the water.

We hope to see you there!

It's our last Daily Giveaway at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. Come over to Booth #42 for "Fine Motor Skill" Day and get a FREE pair of tweezers, scissors, spoon/fork, rubber duckie, or magnet clip before they are all gone!

It's our last Daily Giveaway at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. Come over to Booth #42 for "Fine Motor Skill" Day and get a FREE pair of tweezers, scissors, spoon/fork, rubber duckie, or magnet clip before they are all gone!

Michigan needs YOU: professionals with a passion for children to open child care facilities.

The State of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Child Care Licensing Bureau (CCLB) will be hosting Access Fairs across the state this Fall and Spring. The fairs will bring together all the essential elements of child care licensing to speed up the licensing process to quickly fill the child care need in your area. Child care providers play such an important role in supporting children, families, and community.

If you attend an Access Fair and become a licensed child care provider, you will be able to save over a thousand dollars off your business startup costs. The savings include:

Up to $750 reimbursed for compliance startup costs for new businesses;
FREE Hot Spots (users will need an AT&T contract);
FREE Radon test kits;
FREE background checks;
FREE professional development.

https://greatstartkids.com/mighty-families-mighty-kids/

Next Local Fair: September 22, 2021, 1pm-4pm
Grand Rapids - Kent ISD Conference Center: 1633 E. Beltline Ave. NE

If you have questions, please contact the CCLB at (517) 284-9730 or [email protected].

Special thanks to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Great Start to Quality Resource Centers, Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, First Steps Kent, Kent ISD, Ottawa Area ISD, Traverse City Connect, Early Childhood Support Network, Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC), Fire Safety Unit of the Environmental Health and Safety Section, and local health departments for their generous support of these Access Fairs and helping LARA connect with future child care providers.

Michigan needs YOU: professionals with a passion for children to open child care facilities.

The State of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Child Care Licensing Bureau (CCLB) will be hosting Access Fairs across the state this Fall and Spring. The fairs will bring together all the essential elements of child care licensing to speed up the licensing process to quickly fill the child care need in your area. Child care providers play such an important role in supporting children, families, and community.

If you attend an Access Fair and become a licensed child care provider, you will be able to save over a thousand dollars off your business startup costs. The savings include:

Up to $750 reimbursed for compliance startup costs for new businesses;
FREE Hot Spots (users will need an AT&T contract);
FREE Radon test kits;
FREE background checks;
FREE professional development.

https://greatstartkids.com/mighty-families-mighty-kids/

Next Local Fair: September 22, 2021, 1pm-4pm
Grand Rapids - Kent ISD Conference Center: 1633 E. Beltline Ave. NE

If you have questions, please contact the CCLB at (517) 284-9730 or [email protected].

Special thanks to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Great Start to Quality Resource Centers, Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, First Steps Kent, Kent ISD, Ottawa Area ISD, Traverse City Connect, Early Childhood Support Network, Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC), Fire Safety Unit of the Environmental Health and Safety Section, and local health departments for their generous support of these Access Fairs and helping LARA connect with future child care providers.

Photos from Allegan County Health Department's post

Plainwell Community Schools and Ransom District Library are partnering again for "Talking is Teaching" Play-and-Learns this school year. Check out this month's "Let's Talk About Farm Animals". So much fun!!!

It's "Gross Motor Skill Day" at Booth #42 in the White Building at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. Come grab your FREE kick ball, Help Me Grow frisbee, or smiley stress ball! Supplies are limited, so hurry over to our table as soon as possible :)

It's "Gross Motor Skill Day" at Booth #42 in the White Building at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. Come grab your FREE kick ball, Help Me Grow frisbee, or smiley stress ball! Supplies are limited, so hurry over to our table as soon as possible :)

"Let's Talk About Farm Animals" continues at Baker Elementary School for Wayland Union School's monthly Talking is Teaching Play-and-Learn. Check out their pet goat :) If you missed this month's Play-and-Learn come to next month's in-person playgroup!

Guess what day it is? It's "Feelings Day"!!! Come grab your FREE Kindness or Sharing stories, hot/cold gel pad, emotion flashcards or smiley stress balls before they are all gone! We are located in the White Building at Booth #42. See you soon :)

Guess what day it is? It's "Feelings Day"!!! Come grab your FREE Kindness or Sharing stories, hot/cold gel pad, emotion flashcards or smiley stress balls before they are all gone! We are located in the White Building at Booth #42. See you soon :)

Allegan County Community Mental Health has scheduled another group starting in October. This a great training for any parents, foster parents, guardians, grandparents, respite providers, and childcare providers. Email Beth Higgins to register at [email protected].

Allegan County Community Mental Health has scheduled another group starting in October. This a great training for any parents, foster parents, guardians, grandparents, respite providers, and childcare providers. Email Beth Higgins to register at [email protected].

The Vaccine Clinic will be at the Allegan County Fairgrounds for anyone ages 12+ interested in getting vaccinated :)

Schedule your child's FREE hearing and vision screenings for October 1st :)

We love spreading the word about "Talking, Singing, and Reading" to all Allegan County children, starting at birth. Here's one way you can gain access to FREE books in your community. Feel free to donate your gently used books to any of United Way's Little Free Libraries!
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?ll=42.567391732133274%2C-85.86693444999997&z=11&mid=19DEpGpRzbsSbp-La0-RXleQGSeMf0p8F

We love spreading the word about "Talking, Singing, and Reading" to all Allegan County children, starting at birth. Here's one way you can gain access to FREE books in your community. Feel free to donate your gently used books to any of United Way's Little Free Libraries!
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?ll=42.567391732133274%2C-85.86693444999997&z=11&mid=19DEpGpRzbsSbp-La0-RXleQGSeMf0p8F

Come join the fun!!!

Come join the fun!!!

Come see us in the White Building at the Allegan County Fairgrounds (booth #42). It's "Writing Day" and we are giving away Help Me Grow crayons, pens, pencils, notebooks and magnetic letters. Supplies are limited, so come over right away!

Come see us in the White Building at the Allegan County Fairgrounds (booth #42). It's "Writing Day" and we are giving away Help Me Grow crayons, pens, pencils, notebooks and magnetic letters. Supplies are limited, so come over right away!

Come see us in the White Building at the Allegan County Fairgrounds (booth #42). It's "Literacy Day" and we are giving away 117 (bilingual) Help Me Grow Book Bags. First come, first serve- so hurry over ;)

Come see us in the White Building at the Allegan County Fairgrounds (booth #42). It's "Literacy Day" and we are giving away 117 (bilingual) Help Me Grow Book Bags. First come, first serve- so hurry over ;)

Come see us in the white building at the Allegan County Fairgrounds!!!

There is a workshop for those who are Caring for Children who have Experienced Trauma in October.
Register by emailing or calling Beth Higgins at: [email protected] or 269-615-6130

There is a workshop for those who are Caring for Children who have Experienced Trauma in October.
Register by emailing or calling Beth Higgins at: [email protected] or 269-615-6130

Parents in the Park!
Support group for parents of special needs children.
Tuesday, September 14th at 5pm at the Hillside School Playground!
Next Parent in the Park group is on Tuesday, October 12th!

Parents in the Park!
Support group for parents of special needs children.
Tuesday, September 14th at 5pm at the Hillside School Playground!
Next Parent in the Park group is on Tuesday, October 12th!

This week, we will be giving away (3) amazing Talking is Teaching Baskets donated by Allegan County's United Way. Come sign up at our Help Me Grow Booth (Booth #42 in the White Building). We will announce our (3) WINNERS on the last day of the Allegan County Fair!!!

Tonight's ALLEGAN Play-and-Learn is CANCELLED due to illness. We are sorry for the inconvenience and hope to see everyone soon! Please spread the word that there will not be a playgroup tonight at Allegan. Thank you.

Tonight's ALLEGAN Play-and-Learn is CANCELLED due to illness. We are sorry for the inconvenience and hope to see everyone soon! Please spread the word that there will not be a playgroup tonight at Allegan. Thank you.

Our FIRST ever Families Connected Meeting is today at 1:30pm! Our meeting is virtual on Zoom! We have a NEW virtual link: https://bit.ly/allegancafe
We will discuss what Great Start Families Connected (GSFC) is and how we can help parents/caregivers get connected to other caregivers and the community!
You can view and join our FB Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/166932208916994

Our FIRST ever Families Connected Meeting is today at 1:30pm! Our meeting is virtual on Zoom! We have a NEW virtual link: https://bit.ly/allegancafe
We will discuss what Great Start Families Connected (GSFC) is and how we can help parents/caregivers get connected to other caregivers and the community!
You can view and join our FB Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/166932208916994

Happy National Read a Book Day!