Childhood Developmental Milestones

4C for Children’s Child Care Referral service assists families in finding and choosing quality child care, while empowering them with the resources they need to choose the best care for their children. 4C specialists can be reached through email or phone and will help families identify specific needs, do a customized search to meet specific situations and provide potential child care options that fit those needs. This service is provided free of charge.

Dayton Metro Library is a place where you can come to get connected to resources, support, and build healthy community connections. Promoting wellness in all areas allows people to be better students, workers, and citizens because basic needs are being met. DML is committed to doing our part of this important work.

Every Baby Sleeps Safe seeks to reduce infant sleep-related deaths by educating parents and caregivers on the importance of practicing the ABCs of safe sleep for their babies and by providing eligible families and expecting mothers with a free pack ‘n play for their baby. Families must be a resident of Greene or Montgomery County, WIC-eligible, at least 32 weeks pregnant or a child under 1 year of age with no other safe sleep space to qualify.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a program that sends free, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five.

Early Head Start serves children from 6 weeks to age 3 and income-eligible pregnant women. Children receive developmental screenings and special services they may need. Mothers-to-be get connected to prenatal care, and families learn parenting skills and how to promote their child’s early brain development. Options include Full-Day, Full-Year and Home Base.

Early literacy begins with you and includes everything children need to know about reading and writing before they become proficient readers and writers. You can support early learning by using Dayton Metro Library’s fun and creative programs, resources, and services for young children from birth through third grade.

The family coaching team is dedicated to helping families across our community achieve self-sufficiency. Our family coaches assist with goal setting, problem-solving, and connecting families to local programs and resources for stability and growth. We celebrate accomplished goals with monetary incentives.

This is a free program that offers support and help for pregnant women, moms, dads, and babies to help them have healthy lives. Our team assists with funding and applying for insurance, as well as education and information about how both parents play a role in pre-pregnancy, labor delivery and daily parenting of your baby.

4C for Children provides support and resources to foster, adoptive and kinship care families. Our free services help families navigate each step of the journey towards becoming a foster family, an adoptive family or in providing kinship care (relatives, extended family members or non-relative adults who have a long-standing relationship or bond with a child).

Ohio residents of all ages can apply online for a FREE Dayton Metro Library card.

Head Start provides early learning for children from age 3 to 5. Our evidence-based curriculum focuses on getting young learners ready for kindergarten. Children also receive developmental screenings and are connected to healthcare providers, including for dental and vision needs.  Options include part-day (3.5 hrs. M-Th), 6.5 hours, M-F and Full-Day, Full-Year (10 hrs. a day).

Free services and support for pregnant women, caregivers with new babies, and families with young children to the age of three. These evidence-based programs provide education, support, and advocacy.

We protect children and strengthens families. We investigate thousands of claims of abuse and neglect each year, and we prevent dangerous situations by working with families and providing them with helpful resources. If you have a concern about possible child abuse or child neglect, please call 937-224-KIDS (937-224-5437).

MVCDC encourages the involvement of fathers and father figures through our Fatherhood Champions initiative.  This cohort of men join together to share resources and learn about the critical role they play in the development of their children.

This program operates under the authority of the Montgomery County Board of County Commissioners to work with stakeholders (community volunteers, public and private agencies, funders, individuals, families and children, clients and caregivers, etc.) to ensure that the most effective health and human services are available to Montgomery County residents.

We determine eligibility for several programs designed to strengthen individuals and families to help them attain self-sufficiency. These include Food Assistance/SNAP, Cash Assistance, Medical Assistance, Child Care Assistance, Emergency Aid (PRC) for Needy Families and Adult Protective Services.

Neighborhood Navigators connect local pregnant and newly post-partum people to the resources and services they need to support a healthy birth and baby. Neighborhood Navigators can provide resources to help with baby supplies, prenatal care, home visiting services, and more.

On Our Sleeves works in the community to reduce the need for long term mental health care, to enhance mental wellness, and to develop resilience to overcome traumas.

4C for Children Parent & Youth Ambassadors (PYAs) are a single, in-person resource that helps families navigate state and local services and benefits for children ages birth to 21. PYA staff have lived experience in social systems and will accompany families on the journey of connecting with agencies and government services and applying for the assistance needed. All services provided are free.

A free program to help connect people to medical and social services they and their loved ones need most. Participants partner with a community health worker to empower them to make decisions regarding their health and well-being.

Play on Purpose, or POP, is a community-based initiative to encourage families to turn everyday moments into playful learning opportunities. The aim of this initiative is to help families engage their young children by asking the right questions at the right time. Our goal is to turn free play into playful learning by engaging adults with their young children through thoughtful design and intentional placement of experiences and signage.

Dayton Metro Library provides programs for all ages, including early literacy, STEM, tech, and career development programs. For young children, DML provides early literacy-rich Storytimes, Play and Learn programs that give children and caregivers the opportunity to explore new activities and build connections with each other, and Kindergarten Club to support school readiness. Offerings vary by branch.

The Scholars of H.O.P.E. (Health. Optimistic. Prepared. Educated.) program uses afterschool time to expose students to enrichment classes, enhanced learning opportunities, and field trips to broaden their understanding of the world. It is available to Fairview Elementary and Edwin Joel Brown Middle School students and offers a safe after-school environment to support social and academic needs.

This program helps bring services to children and families in a way that is simple and organized for the family. Service coordination finds agencies, people and services that help children and families, and with family involvement, organizes a plan to get the child and family what they need.

This relationship-based approach pairs each child or youth with an adult navigator to craft personalized action plans in collaboration with their families and other caring adults. Student success plans focus on the child’s needs and strengths and pinpoint supports, enrichments, and resources to overcome barriers, foster growth, and advance their goals. With a holistic perspective, Success Planning ensures every child is known, seen, and heard, establishing a positive bond with a caring adult and empowering students to take charge of their journey to success.

Summer Reading Challenge is an annual initiative to support reading and learning through the summer.  Our program is designed to foster a daily habit of reading or learning, which can support academic success!

TIP is a 6 hr., M-F trauma-informed program, meaning we focus on helping your child deal with all of their physical, social and emotional needs. Our focus is on helping your son or daughter control their mind and body and calm themselves so they can learn. Small class sizes and specially trained teachers make this a good fit for some children.

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) serves families by providing nutrition education, supplemental foods, breastfeeding education and support, and referrals to health care and other services. WIC participation is based on income eligibility.  Pregnant people, new mothers, infants and children up to age five are eligible.

The goal is for a child to read 1,000 books by the time they start kindergarten to build literacy skills and a love of reading. Sharing books aloud with a child builds a strong bond between child and caregiver! Track your books online or by using our paper tracker and collect prizes at 250, 500, 750, and 1,000 books read.