Child Care Choices

03/27/2023

The Child Care Choices search function is temporarily offline as we upgrade to a new system. Check back in tomorrow for a new and improved search, and thank you for your patience!

02/10/2023

Help Me Grow Maine (HMG Maine) is a central access point that works to connect all families of children prenatal to eight, to reach out and be linked with information, resources, and referrals to the already-existing services in Maine. HMG Maine is a low-barrier resource, requiring no formal referral from a professional, no financial or diagnostic criteria, and no paperwork to complete to begin the process.

Reasons to reach out to HMG Maine include:

You are working with a family that needs additional supports, but you are unsure what they are eligible for/where to refer them.
A family needs support in navigating the system of services to connect with a program or resource (CDS, Targeted Case Management, Early Care and Education settings, etc.).
You would like to speak as a professional with a resource specialist about what resources are available for a family you are working with, or about resources in your area in general.
You would like a child to receive a developmental and/or social-emotional screening through Ages and Stages Questionnaires®.
HMG Maine is now available statewide! Support can be accessed by both families and providers by:

Call 211 (option 5)

HMG Maine online referral portal found here: Help Me Grow Maine Online Referral.

Call toll free at: 1-833-714-7969.

Email [email protected]

09/21/2022

The changing of the seasons each fall means incredible foliage, the return of snuggly sweaters, pumpkin-spiced everything, and best of all, an opportunity for children to spend time outside learning about all things Autumn!

09/20/2022

Safe Kids and many of our 400 coalitions are offering multiple options for parents to learn about car seats virtually and in-person during Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 19-25) and throughout the year. We have many options, so please take advantage of one of the following resources. ]

07/05/2022

Supporting young children during times of crisis

05/23/2022

Do you have a question that is not answered here? Click "suggest a journey map" button at the bottom of the webpage: www.portlandofopportunity.com/how-do-i-in-portland-maine

We would love to hear your suggestions so we can continue to create more helpful resources!

05/04/2022

Child Care Survey for Families! Share your thoughts today!

The Right from the Start Coalition works to ensure that all Maine children have equal opportunity for healthy development. This means providing accessible and high-quality early care and education, no matter where families live. This survey is for parents or primary caregivers of children under age eight who live in Maine. We want to understand families’ experiences and priorities with finding and selecting child care. The results from this survey will help Right from the Start support and advocate for child care in Maine. The survey is anonymous and you do not have to share your name or contact information unless you choose to do so. The survey will only take about 10 minutes of your time. Thank you for your help!

English: http://ow.ly/EWJk50IYhKK

Español (Spanish): http://ow.ly/RFoT50IYhKI

Français (French): http://ow.ly/ScZ650IYhKM

Português (Portuguese): http://ow.ly/VZSy50IYhKH

Soomaali (Somali): http://ow.ly/ELcp50IYhKx

04/04/2022

Every year, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) hosts Week of the Young Child. This year the celebration will occur from April 2nd through April 8th. Members of the Early Learning Team at the Maine Department of Education plan to share a video each day highlighting e...

03/30/2022

Kids and families continue to face new challenges each day as a result of COVID-19. With support from Viatris, we've created new resources to help young children and the adults in their lives. Explore today for self-care strategies, tips for coping with change, and more: https://bit.ly/3wQV1c2

03/21/2022

Did you know? Retired grandparents or legal guardians who are retired are eligible for the Maine Child Care Subsidy Program! Learn more: bit.ly/maineccsp

03/16/2022

It’s National Sleep Week so here is a great graphic on keeping your precious babe sleeping safely.