Resources: Community Connections
The Family Bond
Baby Class 4 Big Kids
Especially for families who are expecting a new baby, Baby Class 4 Big Kids seeks to prepare the household's older children for the exciting new arrival. Geared toward children aged three- to eight-years old, this unique service gives the "big kids" good information about having a new baby at home, talks about becoming a big brother or sister in an interactive fashion, and provides a tour of the hospital's nursery.
Serves: Families, who are expecting a new baby, and have children at home between three- and eight-years old.
Agency: Bay Regional Medical Center
Phone: (989) 894-8617
Baby's First Massage Class
Focused on the therapeutic value of certain massage techniques, Baby's First Massage Class is available to Bay or Arenac County expectant mothers and fathers, parents with a newborn, and anyone simply interested. The basic massage strokes that enhance digestion, promote sleep, healing, growth and development, and parental bonding are demonstrated and practiced.
Serves: Expectant or new parents or anyone wanting to learn these techniques.
Agency: Bay Regional Medical Center
Phone: (989) 894-8617
Boot Camp for New Dads
Not as tough as it sounds, Boot Camp for New Dads offers a great learning opportunity for Bay or Arenac County expectant fathers and dads with a newborn. Led by "veteran" dads, the new dads or dads-to-be get some good advice and information on supporting new mothers, forming or growing a family, baby care, fatherhood responsibilities, and important safety issues.
Serves: Expectant fathers and dads with a newborn.
Agency: Bay Regional Medical Center
Phone: (989) 894-8617
Early Learning Playgroups
Playgroups enhance the parent-child relationship, offer the children experiences that promote learning, and support parents as their child's first teacher. To receive current information about local playgroup schedules and locations you may phone the Saginaw Valley Regional 4C office.
Serves: Parents and children from birth to age five.
Agency: Saginaw Valley Regional 4C for current information
Phone: (989) 667-8964 ext. 266
Nan's Playpals
Weekly early-learning playgroup activities are offered by Nan's Playpals for children up to five-years old. The caregiver leads and children participate in different musical activities that are designed to aid development of each child's social, thinking, physical condition, and language skills.
Serves: Children up to five-years old
Agency: Bay Regional Medical Center
Phone: (989) 894-2617
Family Learning
Great Parents, Great Start
The Great Parents, Great Start program is aimed at fostering stable families and improving children's school readiness by using the components of adult education, early childhood education, parenting education and parent-child interaction.
Serves: Parents of children up to five-years old, residing in either Bay or Arenac County.
Agency: Bay-Arenac ISD
Phone: (989) 667-3263
Website: www.migreatparents.com
Imagination Library
The Imagination Library is a program aimed at preparing children to be ready for school by providing a free, high quality, age-appropriate hard cover book by mail every month for all children from birth to age five who reside in Bay or Arenac County.
Serves: Children from birth to age five residing in Bay or Arenac County.
Agency: Bay-Arenac ISD
Phone: (989) 667-3280
Parent Connect
Parent Connect offers training to parents of children ages birth to five through the Parents As Teachers (PAT) program and coordinates home based instruction services from Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency (NEMCSA) and Saginaw Valley Regional 4C (SVR4C).
Serves: Parents of children attending an "at risk" school or parents of children ages birth to five-years old.
Agency: Bay-Arenac ISD & United Way of Bay County
Phone: (989) 667-3263
Website: www.parent-connect.org
Parent Involvement & Education Center
The Parent Involvement and Education Center promotes healthy parent-child relationships, helping to assure that each child learns, develops, and grows ready for school. With the assistance of Parent Educators, parents are able to identify individual parenting goals and create a program that works best for their family. Opportunities for parents include free classes, connections to community and web-based resources, information about free community services and early literacy screening prior to children entering kindergarten in a Bay City Public School.
Serves: Families of young children from birth to five-years not yet in Kindergarten. Families must reside within Bay City Publc Schools boundaries.
Agency: Bay City Public Schools
Phone: (989) 894-0206
Head Start to Learning
Early Head Start
Early Head Start seeks to build a foundation for a child's school readiness during the earliest years of childhood. This program promotes healthy prenatal outcomes, enhances the development of infant and toddlers, and supports healthy family functioning. Families are enrolled in a home visiting program including weekly playgroups or, where available, infant-toddler childcare.
Serves: Expectant mothers and families with children up to three-years old. Free for those who meet federal poverty guidelines or have certain risk factors. Ten percent of enrollments are reserved for children with disabilities.
Agency: Northeast Michigan Community Services Agency, Inc. (NEMSCA)
Phone: Bay: (800) 795-8131 Arenac: (866) 851-1667
Head Start
Head Start is a child-family focused program designed to increase the school readiness of young children. This program provides a range of services in the areas of education and early childhood development; medical, dental, and mental health; nutrition; and parent involvement. Children are enrolled for preschool programs or, where available, families may also receive home visiting services.
Serves: Families with children between three-and five years old. Free for those who meet federal poverty guidelines or have certain risk factors. Ten percent of enrollments are reserved for children with disabilities.
Agency: Northeast Michigan Community Services Agency, Inc. (NEMCSA)
Phone: Bay: (800) 795-8131 Arenac: (866) 851-1667
International Preschool
The International Preschool offers full-day classes of Chinese and American culture and language education. Students are taught Chinese culture and language (Mandarin) the first half of the day and American culture and language (English) the second half. This is a tuition-based preschool operated by Bay City Public Schools in collaboration with the US-China Center of Research for Educational Excellence.
Serves: Children ages three-five years
Agency: Bay City Public Schools
Phone: (989) 671-8180
Website: www.bcschools.net
Preschool Partnership - Bay and Arenac
The Preschool Partnership provides information about and referrals to local Head Start and Michigan School Readiness Programs in Bay and Arenac Counties.
Serves: Eligibility is based on income.
Agency: Preschool Partnership
Phone: Bay: (800) 795-8131 or (989) 893-8131 Arenac: (866) 851-1677 or (989) 654-5738
Child Care
Bay Area Family Y Child Care
Affordable, high-quality childcare services as well as a special preschool program are available at the Bay Area Family Y. Childcare services are offered for children from ages three weeks through 12-years old. A Michigan School Readiness Program (MSRP) is offered for eligible four-year-olds.
Serves: Children three-weeks to 12-years old for childcare; a child must be four-years old by December 1 of the school year and meet certain criteria to qualify for MSRP preschool.
Agency: Bay Area Family Y
Phone: (989) 895-8596
Saginaw Valley Regional 4C
Saginaw Valley Regional 4C maintains a database of regular/licensed childcare providers in Bay Area and Arenac County. Able to provide lists of childcare providers tailored to meet each parent's need.
Serves: All Parents
Agency: Saginaw Valley Regional 4C
Phone: (989) 667-8964 ext. 266 Toll Free: 1-866-4CHILDCARE
Child Safety
Infant/Child CPR & First Aid Class
As part of the parenting education services available to Bay and Arenac Counties' residents, the Infant/Child CPR & First Aid Class is most highly recommended for new or expectant parents, as well as those who support the family in caring for the infant or child. Proper techniques are discussed, demonstrated and practiced for CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation), FBAO (foreign body airway obstruction) removal, and basic safety and first aid.
Serves: New or expectant parents and their support network. This class is not designed for CPR/First Aid Certification.
Agency: Bay Regional Medical Center
Phone: (989) 894-8617