Resources for Parents

Born Learning
Born Learning is a collaborative effort designed to facilitate learning in all childhood experiences. This site is especially useful for parents, grandparents, and early childhood education professionals in providing constant learning opportunities for children within the context of day-to-day activities. For specific questions on healthcare, nutrition, and sleep you can click on the “Promoting Health” section of the website for important tips and information.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Department of Health and Human Services has compiled a comprehensive list of resources on child development and positive parenting.  Visit the above link to be connected to a variety of resources.
 
Child Care Aware
Child Care Aware is a program of the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) and is committed to helping parents find the best information on locating quality child care and child care resources in their community. Child Care Aware accomplishes this by raising the visibility of local child care resource and referral agencies nationwide and by connecting parents with the local agencies best equipped to serve their needs.

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
NAEYC is dedicated to improving the well being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for young children ages birth to age eight.  The link above provides specific resources for families on an array of issues.

National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA)
NACCRRA works with more than 800 state and local Child Care Resource & Referral agencies to ensure that families in every local community have access to high-quality, affordable child care.  The website includes a whole section dedicated to resources for parents and in order to find your local resource and referral agency, please visit the website for the Texas Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Association (TACCRRA) at http://www.taccrra.net/ .

PBS Parents
At PBS Parents you will find information about your child's development from birth through the early school years.  In addition, you can access lots of fun educational activities for your children to help get them ready for school. The PBS Parent Guides address important aspects of your child's early years such as school readiness and social and emotional development.

Parents’ Action for Children
Dedicated to raising awareness of the critical importance of the early years, this site is where the critically acclaimed I Am Your Child series was born and over the past decade more than a dozen productions have been released.  The newest addition “For the Child” is now available to help foster parents and kinship care providers address the mental health needs of children in their care

Parents as Teachers National Center
Parents as Teachers has created programs for parents and professionals to implement in local communities to ensure that children reach their full potential. This site is rich in resources for both parents and early education professionals and covers a wide range of topics from school readiness to nutrition, safety and more.  Based on early childhood education and development research, Parents as Teachers offers advocacy resources as well as tools for becoming an active participant in parent education at home and in Washington, D.C.  Be sure to also visit the Texas Chapter of this important work at http://www.txpat.org/ .

Raising Texas  
Raising Texas is a statewide, collaborative effort to strengthen Texas' system of services for young children and families so that all children enter school healthy and ready to learn.  Through the collaborative partnership of nine state agencies, 16 community based agencies and 60 key stakeholders, a state plan has been developed to improve the current system of services for all children age birth to 6.  The above link outlines their work on parent education and family support.  

Texans Care For Children  
Issues and advocacy come together in this organization to help you make the most of your ability to create positive change for children across the state. Texans Care For Children is dedicated to raising awareness and developing public policy around the following issue areas: child poverty and family economic security; child and maternal health; children’s mental health; early care and education; child welfare; at-risk youth and juvenile justice.

Texas Association for Infant Mental Health (TAIMH)
The mission of TAIMH is to provide awareness of the critical importance of the first three years of life in human development; conditions which enhance the quality of infant/caregiver relationships; policy and practice which optimize the emotional development of infants. 
The Texas Association for Infant Mental Health is an interdisciplinary, professional organization established to nurture and promote the optimal development of infants, toddlers, and families through relationship-based training and advocacy efforts.

Texas Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (TACCRRA)
Need help finding quality early care and education services for your child?  Need resources to help a child with challenging behaviors?  The TACCRRA website will link you to their seven member organizations serving families throughout Texas and more!

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
The Child Care Licensing Division of the Department of Family and Protective services offers information regarding the types of child care offered in Texas, tools to search for child care in your area, and frequently asked questions about services.

Texas Education Agency
This section of the Texas Education Agency website offers information for families regarding health insurance, child care, college funds, resources specifically for military families and more.

Texas Head Start State Collaboration Office
The Texas Head Start State Collaboration Office is part of the Children’s Learning Institute and offers a variety of resources for Parents.  Also visit this website to find a local Head Start program in your area.

Tufts University Child and Family WebGuide
This WebGuide is a directory that evaluates, describes and provides links to hundreds of sites containing child development research and practical advice. Topics are selected on the basis of parent recommendations; they cover all ages, from early child development through adolescence.

ZERO TO THREE
ZERO TO THREE provides parents and professionals with tools and resources for understanding early childhood development. The “Key Topics” section is extensive and provides great insight into relevant issue areas such as temperament and behavior; social emotional development; early childhood mental health; and more.

Don’t see your organization listed or a critical resource that you utilize on a regular basis? Please email Kara Johnson at kjohnson@tecec.org so that we can update this information