Parenting
In our experience, parents-to-be and folks on the early stages of the parenting journey are often eager for information about all sorts of topics. The Good Beginnings family resource pages are designed to help parents find the information they need by providing as much as possible in one place. The resources included are not necessarily exhaustive and are for informational purposes only.
Your Local Parent Child Center
Family Center of Washington County
The Family Center’s mission is to build resourceful families and healthy children to create a strong community.
Lamoille County Family Center
We provide a network of care for children, families and youth that weaves together the best practices of professionals, the wisdom and experience of families, and the strengths and hopes of the community.
Orange County Parent Child Center
Our work throughout Orange County brings family support and outreach programming into homes and communities, meeting families where it is convenient and comfortable for them. Our programs connect parents with practical strategies and skills that address the full spectrum of family joys and challenges.
Vermont’s Parent Child Centers
A network of 15 centers that help families make sure children get off to a healthy start. Services include early childhood services, home visits to families with young children, playgroups, parent education, parent support, and information and referral.
Other Local Resources
Be Seat Smart
Vermont’s Child Passenger Safety Program is designed to draw attention to the importance of child safety seats and to help parents understand the 4 Stages of Seat Safety that every child progresses through. See which stage your child is in below and find out how to buckle your kids in their car or booster seat safely. Certified safety technicians are available to help you at free special Child Safety Seat Checks and Fitting Stations throughout Vermont. We also run Traveling Safety Seat Inspections – find out when we will be in your area!
The Children's Room, Waterbury
The Children’s Room is non-profit organization whose purpose is to serve all families with young children in Central Vermont communities by providing information and support in order to increase parenting knowledge and caregiving skills. The Room is also a fun and safe place to play.
Good Beginnings of the Upper Valley
The mission of Good Beginnings is to ensure that every baby in our local community enjoys a “good beginning.” We provide volunteers that visit families with new babies free of charge and lend a helping hand with whatever the family might need.
Help Me Grow
HMG VT addresses families’ concerns and questions about their child’s behavior, development, and learning and connects them to community resources. By strengthening protective factors in families, HMG VT supports parents and caregivers to better understand and promote their child’s social and emotional well-being.
Dial 2-1-1 X6 Monday-Friday 9am-6pm
Kids VT
Kids VT is Vermont’s only parenting magazine, a reliable resource for family-friendly events, activities, camps and classes since 1994. Find tips on health, fitness, food, shopping, books, crafts and more. Our free, monthly magazine is available at more than 600 locations in northern and central Vermont.
Parent Education
Prevent Child Abuse Vermont
Prevent Child Abuse Vermont promotes and supports healthy relationships within families, schools and communities to eliminate child abuse. PCAVT also hosts a Circle of Parents group that is a professionally facilitated, peer led support group for parents and other caregivers, and Nurturing Parenting Programs that are curriculum-based, parenting education programs for families experiencing stress.
The Vermont’s Parents Home Companion & Resource Directory
This booklet provides some tips and a Resource Directory of support services organized by county. Included are sections on the growth and developmental stages of children, information for helping parents deal with stress, and child safety tips for when you and your child are apart. There are several keys to surviving parenthood — one is information, another is support. This booklet is designed to provide you with some good strategies to help you along the way and the names of organizations that have support and caring to offer.
The Pathways VT Support Line
The Pathways Vermont Support Line is a free, confidential resource for Vermonters seeking support. We provide nonjudgmental, peer-to-peer support by phone. Call us! Our line is open every day from 3:00 pm to 6:00 am. Give us a call at (833) VT-TALKS / (833) 888-2557.
Child Development Research and Best Practices
Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University
A research institution that leverages rapidly growing knowledge about the developing brain to drive science-based innovation that achieves breakthrough outcomes for children facing adversity.
Optimize Development
This site will provide you with information around optimizing infant and toddler development as well as provide resources such as consultations, coaching, and classes.
Parenting Counts
Parenting Counts is the research-based family of products developed by Talaris Institute to support parents and caregivers in raising socially- and emotionally-healthy children.
Strengthening Families Framework
Strengthening Families is a research-informed approach to increase family strengths, enhance child development and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. It is based on engaging families, programs and communities in building the five protective factors.
Zero to Three
Zero to Three: National Center for Infants,Toddlers and Families is a national nonprofit organization that provides parents, professionals and policymakers the knowledge and the know-how to nurture early development.
