Early Childhood Training http://www.wvearlychildhood.org/
This website offers training connections and resources for providers. You can access Choices' training calendar here, as well as other training resources available to you as a provider, such as S.T.A.R.S. and WVECTCR. Helpful links for children and families can also be found here.
FACTS Plus http://www.wvfacts.org/wvfacts/default.aspx
This website offers child care providers information on FACTS plus, as well as the application and instructions for setting up a FACTS Plus account.
Healthy Childcare http://www.healthychild.net/
Visit this site to access a library of all the Healthy Childcare articles. Their publications are educational and informative, and are available online for providers.
Ka BOOM!
http://kaboom.org/KaBOOM! is a national nonprofit organization committed to building safe playgrounds for Americas' children through partnership with individuals, community groups, and businesses. They have a great website geared towards helping communities with low-income families provide quality playgrounds.
National Association for the Education of Young Children http://www.naeyc.org
Come here to check out the latest information on NAEYC's conferences and publications, plus information on accreditation, advocacy, policy issues, and NAEYC membership.
NACCRRA- National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies http://www.naccrra.org
NACCRRA is the national network of community-based child care resource and referral agencies. NACCRRA provides technical consultation and resources to member child care resource and referral agencies. Visit this website to find out more information and discover the benefits of membership.
NAFCC- National Association for Family Child Care http://www.nafcc.org
The mission of NAFCC is to support the profession of family child care and to encourage high-quality care for children. NAFCC promotes high-quality family child care through accreditation, leadership training, technical assistance, public education, and policy initiatives. Visit the website to find out more about this organization.
Our Babies: Safe and Sound http://www.safesoundbabies.com
This site offers helpful tips on how to keep babies safe while sleeping. Our Babies: safe and sound is a campaign to promote safe sleep for infants, as well as shaken baby/abusive head trauma prevention
Southern Early Childhood Association http://www.southernearlychildhood.org/
The Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA) consists of preschool, kindergarten, and primary teachers and administrators, caregivers, program directors, and individuals working with and for families, to promote quality care and education for young children. Click on the link above for more information.
Wee Talk www.weetalk.net/
Provides information about how babies and young children learn to speak, including milestones and signs of developmental delay. Gives suggestions on how caregivers help to promote speech development.
WV Early Care and Education www.wvchildcare.org
This new web link directs users to the WVDHHR Early Care and Education Community. This website provides useful information to anyone searching for child care resources on the internet.
West Virginia Partners in Implementing an Early Care and Education System (PIECES) http://www.wvdhhr.org/oss/pieces/portal/
West Virginia PIECES is an initiative sponsored jointly by the Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Resources and aimed at improving the state's system of early care and education The PIECES Advisory Council and committees work on issues such as professional development, interagency collaboration, and regulations and standards.
For Parents:
American Academy of Pediatrics www.aap.org
Committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental and social health and well being for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
Birth to Three http://www.wvdhhr.org/birth23/
West Virginia Birth to Three is a statewide system of services and supports for children under age three who have a delay in their development, or may be at risk of having a delay. Services include physical and occupational therapy, vision and audiology services, nursing, and counseling, all of which are provided in a collaboration with each child's family. Twelve organizations provide services in all 55 counties.
Center for the Study of Social Policy http://www.cssp.org
The Center strives to help states and localities implement creative and effective strategies that strengthen disadvantaged communities and families and ensure that children grow up healthy, safe, successful in school, and ready for productive adulthood.
Child Advocacy Centers http://www.nca-online.org/states/westvirginia.html
Child Advocacy Centers offer a new way of serving abused children through a comprehensive approach to services for victims and their families. The centers promote coordination of investigation and intervention services by bringing together professional and agencies as a multidisciplinary team to create a child-focused approach. A few West Virginia communities have established centers and more are planning them.
Child Care Aware www.ChildCareAware.org
Child Care Aware is a national initiative, conducted by NACCRRA, The Nation's Network of Child care Resource and Referral, committed to helping parents find the best information on locating quality child care and child care resources in their community. Their website offers information for parents on topics such as choosing the right child care setting, making the transition from child care to kindergarten, and early literacy success.
Children with Disabilities www.childrenwithdisabilities.ncjrs.org
Offers families, service providers, and other interested individuals information about advocacy, education, employment, health, housing, recreation, technical assistance, and transportation covering a broad array of developmental, physical, and emotional disabilities.
Community Action Agencies www.wvcommunity.org
Community Action Agencies (CAAs) are nonprofit organizations established under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to fight America's War on Poverty. CAAs help people to help themselves in achieving self-sufficiency. They offer a range of services in the areas of education, employment, transportation, housing, nutrition, and emergency assistance. There are 16 CAAs in West Virginia that cover all 55 counties.
Domestic Violence Programs www.wvcadv.org
West Virginia has 13 regional organizations that provide information, shelter, and services to victims of domestic violence.
Energy Express www.ext.wvu.edu/nrgxpress
Energy Express is a six-week summer program that promotes the school success of children living in rural and low-income communities. Local programs provide two nutritious meals each day and summer learning experiences focused on reading. Programs engage college students as mentors and develop partnerships with parents, schools, communities, and state agencies and organizations.
Family.com www.family.com
Great ideas, practical advice, and fun things to do.
Family Support Program www.wvdhhr.org/bhhf/famsup1.asp
The Program provides help with planning for needs and finding resources; help with identifying and applying for appropriate government and community programs; funding for goods, services or home modifications that will help families stay together; and networking and support services.
Family Village http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/
This website contains a library of specific diagnoses and a wide range of topics related to special needs. There is information about connecting with other people, health care and product information, message boards, community and educational resources, places of worship, options for recreation and leisure, and a guide to the Internet.
KidsHealth www.kidshealth.org
What should you expect as your child grows? Learn how to understand and deal with your child's changing body and mind from infancy through the teen years.
Mountain State Parents, Children, and Adolescents Network http://www.mspcan.org
This organization supports families who have children who have emotional, mental, or behavioral disorders. They provide individual emotional support, information and referral, a quarterly newsletter, legislative updates, a family resource library, and advocacy training.
National Fatherhood Initiative www.fatherhood.org
National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) was founded in 1994. This website offers resources and information on the importance of children having fathers involved in their lives. Click on the link above to read their mission and to learn more about this organization.
National Parent Information Network http://www.npin.org
As part of the ERIC clearinghouse on elementary and early childhood education, this site focuses on information for parents. You will find a lot of great resources, including a magazine, discussion list, conference events, state networks, an “ask-ERIC” section, and much more.
National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care http://www.nrckids.org/
Some highlights of this website include a study on cost, quality and outcomes, state child care regulations, and national safety standards. An extensive links page with resources on everything from lead poisoning to playground safety is useful for both parents and child care providers.
Our Babies: Safe and Sound http://www.safesoundbabies.com
This site offers helpful tips on how to keep babies safe while sleeping. Our Babies: safe and sound is a campaign to promote safe sleep for infants, as well as shaken baby/abusive head trauma prevention
Parents As Teachers http://www.patnc.org
Parents As Teachers (PAT) is an early childhood parent education and family support program serving families throughout pregnancy and until their child enters kindergarten. The Parents as Teachers National Center develops curricula, trains early childhood professional, and certifies parent educators. More than a dozen WV counties have PAT programs.
Parent Educator Resource Centers http://wvde.state.wv.us/ose/percs
Parent Educator Resource Centers provide information, training, and support to families, educators, and other professionals about educational issues. There are currently 39 centers serving local education agencies.
Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP) http://missionwv.org/rapp.htm
Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP) is a collaborative program that will establish community-based groups for relatives raising children. The program collaborators are the West Virginia University Extension Service, Mission West Virginia Inc., and the offices of Social Services and Behavioral Health of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.
Safety Alerts
http://www.safetyalerts.com
This website contains various product recalls from infant/toddler items to automobiles. There is an archive of past recalls and newsletters. You can sign up to receive notices of future recalls.
The American Library Association http://www.ala.org/parents/index.html
This section, or index, of the larger ALA site has great resources for both children and parents. For children and teens, there are pages that highlight good websites to visit, and recommended reading and software. For parents, there is information on adult reference and media materials, a link to Booklist magazine, and much more.
The Secret Life of The Brain http://www.pbs.org/wnet/brain
This website contains information on the various stages of brain development throughout our lives. There is even a tour through a 3-D brain.
United States Consumer Products Safety Commission-Kidd Safety
http://www.cpsc.gov/kids/kidsafety/index.html
This site is designed to offer information and tips to consumers in an effort to prevent unnecessary injuries to children due to consumer products being unsafe. Recall lists of various products are offered here, as well as tips of keeping your children safe.
Wee Talk www.weetalk.net/
Provides information about how babies and young children learn to speak, including milestones and sings of developmental delay. Gives suggestions on how caregivers help to promote speech development.
WV Early Care and Education www.wvchildcare.org
This new web link directs users to the WVDHHR Early Care and Education Community. This website provides useful information to anyone searching for child care resources on the internet.
Zero to Three http://www.zerotothree.org
Zero to Three is a national non-profit charitable organization whose aim is to strengthen and support families, practitioners and communities to promote the healthy development of babies and toddlers. Visit this website to find information and resources for both parents and professionals.
updated 8/21/12