Outside support can be an asset to any family with developing children. Get familiar with these community resources!
thread‘s ParentTALK
Parent TALK is a free thread workshop where parents learn, share ideas, and ask questions about the joys and challenges of parenting.
Recordings of past workshops are available for viewing on your own time.
thread Line
The thread line connects you with an Early Childhood Specialist who can provide individualized child development information, discipline suggestions, or other supports. While we do not provide ongoing counseling, we do provide referrals to other appropriate agencies for social service and crisis assistance. Language interpreter services are available.
Call toll free: 800.278.3723 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday
Developmental Milestones
Learn more about healthy child development with these resources:
Milestone Moments: This booklet provides an overview of milestones to look for and tips on how you can help your child learn and grow.
State of Alaska Early Learning Guidelines: These guidelines spell out what children should know and be able to do at the end of four critical stages of development (18 months, 36 months, 60 months and kindergarten entry).
Help Me Grow Alaska works with families, child care providers, and communities to support healthy growth and learning opportunities for children. Help Me Grow provides child development information, parenting education resources, free child developmental screenings such as the Ages & Stages Questionnaire, and other resources.
Families can complete the Ages & Stages Questionnaire to help track and examine your child’s developing movement, language, and problem solving skills in the first five years of life. After submitting this questionnaire, a Help Me Grow Care Coordinator will follow up with you about your child’s development.
Call toll free: 833.HMG.Alaska 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday
Early Intervention
If you have a concern about your child’s development, the Alaska InfantLearning Program provides developmental screenings and specialized services for children from birth to age 3 who have developmental delays and/or disabilities.
Call toll free: 877.477.3659
Best Beginnings
Best Beginnings offers resources to support Alaska children’s communication, language, and literacy skills to contribute to kindergarten readiness. They help grow readers through Imagination Library, provide information and materials to educate parents, and utilize community partnerships. Learn more and sign up here.
Strengthening Families
thread works with early childhood education programs across Alaska to promote Strengthening Families, a research-based, cost-effective strategy to increase family stability, enhance child development, and reduce child abuse and neglect. The Strengthening Families five protective factors help build family strengths and a family environment that promotes optimal child development.
Ready for Kindergarten
As your child gets ready for kindergarten in Alaska, explore what they will learn in kindergarten (Alaska Department of Education and Early Development).
WIC
Good nutrition supports a child’s optimal development. Women, Infants and Children (WIC) offers free healthy food, nutrition and breastfeeding information and counseling, health screening, and referrals to needed services for those who meet income eligibility guidelines.
Call: 907.465.3100
Denali KidCare
Access to healthcare helps children stay healthy so they can learn. Denali KidCare provides health insurance coverage for children through age 18 and for pregnant women who meet income eligibility guidelines.
Text KidCare to 898-211 to find out if you are eligible.
Alaska 2-1-1
Alaska 2-1-1 is a statewide health and social referral service. It is free and confidential, supported by United Way of Anchorage. Language translation is available.
Call: 2-1-1 or 800.478.2221 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday
Helpful National Resources
Listed below is information for national resources and services you may find helpful.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is dedicated to the physical, mental and social health, and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
Bright By Text provides quality information and trusted resources to parents and caregivers of children prenatal to age five through short text messages a few times a week. Available in English and Spanish, the text messages are comprised of research-based content from Bright By Three and national partners such as PBS, Vroom, and Sesame Street.
Child Care Aware of America offers resources for information about finding child care, national organizations, glossary of terms, and a plan for budgeting for child care.
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a professional organization which promotes excellence in early childhood education. Information for educators and parents, conference information and professional development resources are available at www.naeyc.org
Sesame Workshop is a nonprofit whose mission is to help kids everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Find family resources on everything from math and science to tough topics like grief.
Vroom provides science-based tips and tools to inspire families to turn shared, everyday moments into Brain Building Moments®. Browse the 1,000+ fun, free activities to add learning to mealtime, bath time, bedtime, or anytime.
ZERO TO THREE uses its expertise in the science of early childhood development to provide programs, field-leading training and resources, and responsive policy solutions. Find family resources on child development, activities for bonding, and more.
