EARLY CHILDhood RESOURCES

Browse the list below to find resources from United Way and our partners, including child care assistance and tips, educational tools and other supports for families.

After-School and Summer Youth Programs 

Discover Your Spark

United Way invests in Discover Your Spark, an online tool to help parents find summer and after-school programs powered by the Youth Development Resource Center.

SEARCH NOW

CDC Milestones

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides lists of developmental milestones for children up to five years of age. This can help parents identify any delays their child may have, plus connect them with some free resources.

LEARN MORE

Child Care Checklist

The Child Care Aware Checklist gives parents a list of important questions to ask care providers to find one that is right for their family.

DOWNLOAD

Detroit Child Care Scholarship

Detroit Soars

Funded by The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Detroit SOARS Scholarship program provides financial support for Detroit families with children under age 5 to offset child care tuition.

Learn More

Developmental screenings

ASQ

The Ages and Stages Questionnaire helps parents assess their child’s development for children up to age 5. The ASQ helps parents catch physical, emotional, social and educational delays early and connects them with resources and support to help their kids catch up.

TAKE THE ASQ

Early On

Early On is Michigan’s system for helping infants and toddlers with developmental delays or who are at risk for delays. It’s designed to help families find the social, health, and educational services that will promote the development of their infants and toddlers with special needs.

LEARN MORE

Find Child Care in Wayne County

Connect4Care Kids

Connect4Care Kids is an online tool to help parents access quality child care in Wayne County.

FIND CARE

Find Child Care through Great Start to Quality

Great Start to Quality Resource Centers

Call 877-614-7328 to connect with a Great Start to Quality Resource Center near you and get help finding child care.

Great Start Collaborative for Wayne County

The Great Start Collaborative provides support and resources to parents and care providers throughout Wayne County.

LEARN MORE

Kids’ Health Connections

Kids’ Health Connections (formerly the Wayne Children’s Healthcare Access Program (WCHAP)) educates and empowers parents to better manage their child’s health care.

LEARN MORE

PBS Kids

Find educational games and other resources for children through PBS Kids.

LEARN MORE

Summer meals for children

Meet Up and Eat Up

Meet Up and Eat Up summer meal sites serve more than 1 million meals to children every summer.

FIND YOUR SITE

Text tips for parents

ParentPowered

ParentPowered is a text messaging service for parents of children ages 13 and younger. The service sends helpful tips around education, health and development based on your child’s age.

SIGN UP