Community Resource Guide

COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE

Local School Districts

Types of Preschool Programs

Here is a list of school districts within our service area. Check out each district's website for specific requirements, school of choice options, and more.

Most preschools in Michigan fall into one of the following categories. Consider which type might be the best fit for your child.

Library Resources

Oakland Talking Book Services (OTBS)

(248) 650-7150 otbs.rhpl.org

This free service at the Rochester Hills Public Library loans talking books and magazines, large print books, Braille and talking book players to eligible Oakland County residents of all ages. OTBS is part of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled.

Tender Topics Literacy Kits

Tender Topics Literacy Kits are intended to help families through events that happen in their everyday lives. Each kit has books for children and adults that may encourage engaging conversations, spark questions, determine understanding, and provide simple, realistic explanations. These kits have a variety of themes such as divorce, serious illness, mental health, vision and hearing impairments, and picky eaters. Visit the Youth Services Information Desk at the Main Library or Westacres Branch for more details.

Educational Resources

These resources will help your child grow during their educational journey. Please check each organization’s website to learn more.

Build Up Michigan (888) 320-8384

buildupmi.org

Build Up helps parents and their children (ages 3-5) receive additional educational support. Build Up supports education, learning, and support through targeted outreach.

Services:

• Support and information on early childhood development milestones

• Special education support for children with a wide variety of disabilities, developmental delays, and health impairments

Early On Oakland County (248) 209-2084

oakland.k12.mi.us

Early On® Oakland is a system of services for families of children birth-3 years who have a health condition or a developmental delay. Early On® Oakland helps you find the individual support that your child and family needs.

Services:

• Developmental evaluations and referrals

• Parent coalition

• Help Me Grow

• In-home visits

• Behavior assistance

Great Start Collaborative (844) 456-5437

greatstartoakland.org

Great Start Collaborative Oakland provides resources and information to Oakland County families about child development and early childhood.

Services:

• In-home visits

• Positive parenting classes

• Social emotional health support

• Assistance in finding high-quality childcare

Great Start to Quality (877) 614-7328

bit.ly/OaklandGreatStart

Great Start to Quality is Michigan's quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) that supports early childhood programs and providers in their efforts to improve their programs.

Services:

• Assistance in finding, comparing, and selecting quality child care

• Lending libraries

Help Me Grow Michigan (844) 456-5437

helpmegrow-mi.org

Help Me Grow is devoted to finding resources for all families in Michigan. Help Me Grow believes that all children should be able to grow, develop, and thrive to reach their full potential.

Services:

• Social emotional health support

• Developmental programs and activities

• ASQ (Ages and Stages Questionnaire for developmental screening)

Oakland Child Care Council

(248) 333-9545

oaklandchildcare.org

The Oakland County Child Care Council provides resources and referral information for families. They are advocates on child care issues for the community and are dedicated to promoting the well-being of Oakland County’s children.

Services:

• Early childhood advocacy

• Assistance in finding, comparing, and selecting quality child care

Oakland Schools

(248) 209-2000

oakland.k12.mi.us

Oakland Schools is Oakland County's Intermediate School District. The mission of Michigan’s educational service agencies (ISDs, RESAs and RESDs) is to provide visionary leadership and quality services to strengthen teaching and learning for all citizens

Services:

• Behavior support

• Culturally responsive teaching approaches

• Early childhood education including GSRP and Early On

• Bullying 101

• Immigrant and refugee services

• Resources regarding homelessness

The Family Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (Family Center)

(800) 359-3722

bit.ly/MIfamilycenter

The Family Center offers emotional support, information, and connections to community-based resources to families of children and youth with special health care needs.

Services:

• Referral information based on physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions

• Sibling support

• Bereavement support

• Family/youth transition

• Family leadership network

*Note: Some services provided by specific organizations may require financial compensation. West Bloomfield Township Public Library is sharing information about each organization but does not endorse any specific organization.

Financial Assistance

These organizations provide a variety of services for low and moderate income families around Oakland County.

Hospitality House Food Pantry (248) 960-9975

hhfp.org

The mission of Hospitality House is to minimize deprivation in our community by providing food and assistance to those in need while maintaining the utmost respect for the dignity of the individual.

Services:

• Food assistance

• Car repair assistance

• Emergency housing assistance

Lighthouse of Oakland County (248) 920-6000

lighthousemi.org

Lighthouse of Oakland County aims to alleviate poverty in Southeast Michigan.

Services:

• Emergency shelter

• Emergency food distribution

• Housing assistance programs

• Financial assistance

Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA) (248) 209-2600

olhsa.org/en-us

OLHSA has a mission to empower families and communities to gain the knowledge, skills and resources needed to improve their quality of life.

Services:

• Early Head Start (Birth-3 years)

• Head Start (3 Years)

• GSRP (4 Years)

• Housing assistance

• Re-Entry support

• Emergency food assistance

• Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG): A resource and support group for grandparents age 55 and older who are raising grandchildren

Open Door Outreach Center (248) 360-2931

opendooroutreachcenter.com

Open Door Outreach Center, a 501(c)(3) organization, aims to provide emergency services of food, clothing, and referral information to families in need in the spirit of interfaith charity.

Services:

• Food assistance

• Adopt a Family programs

• Crisis assistance

United Way for Southeastern Michigan (313) 226-9200

unitedwaysem.org

United Way works to ensure families in our region have access to programs and services that help them meet their basic needs.

Services:

• Housing assistance

• Health care assistance

• Meet Up and Eat Up (food assistance)

• Thriving children program

Women Infant Children (WIC)

Oakland County (248) 858-1272

bit.ly/OaklandWIC

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a federally-funded Special Supplemental Nutrition Program of the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture and is administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, serving low and moderate income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.

Services:

• Supplemental healthy foods

• Nutrition counseling and education

• Immunizations

• Referrals to health care, public health nurses, or registered dietitians

Health & Safety Resources

These organizations provide a variety of services for to support the healthy mental and physical development of children around West Bloomfield, Oakland County, and Michigan.

Association for Children’s Mental Health (888) 226-4543

acmh-mi.org

Association for Children’s Mental Health provides information, support, resources, referral and advocacy for children and youth with mental, emotional or behavioral disorders and their families.

Services:

• Family advocacy for childhood mental health

• Support, information, and assessment of your child's mental health challenges

• Assistance finding housing, healthcare, employment, and childcare

• Military family support

CARE House of Oakland County (248) 332-7173

carehouse.org

CARE House aims to be a leading resource in the prevention of child abuse and neglect. CARE House promotes the protection of children through advocacy, education, intervention, research, training, and treatment, in collaboration with the community.

Services:

• Support for victims of abuse and neglect

• Healthy Boundaries/Healthy Relationships

• Internet safety

• Intervention and treatment for substance addiction

• Early Head Start (Birth-3 years)

• Court-appointed special advocates

• Children and body safety classes

Common Ground (800) 231-1127

commongroundhelps.org

Common Ground's vision for the future is that our efforts will continue to result in positive

changes in people’s lives and throughout their communities, which will lead more people to feel safe asking for help.

Services:

• Mental health hotline

• Mobile crisis intervention & recovery teams

• Behavioral health urgent care

• Coping with crisis

• Substance use disorder services

• LGBTQ services

• Medical and financial assistance

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) (800) 638-2772 cpsc.gov

CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. CPSC works to ensure the safety of consumer products such as toys, cribs, and many other child-related products.

Services:

• Safety education resources

• Recall notices

• Safety education library

• Neighborhood safety network

Greater West Bloomfield Community Coalition (248) 928-4942 gwbcoalition.org

The mission of the Greater West Bloomfield Community Coalition is to build community partnerships to reduce high-risk behaviors–including alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use–to help ensure that our youth may grow to their greatest potential.

Services:

• Kids in Charge (elementary school substance abuse program)

• Community events/forums

• Parent education programs

La Leche League of Michigan (877) 452-5324

Lalecheleagueofmichigan.org

Le Leche League of Michigan’s mission is to help parents worldwide to breastfeed through parent-to-parent support, encouragement, information, and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding.

Services:

• Breastfeeding Today Information

• Infant feeding emergencies

• The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding

• Sweet Sleep

• Feed Yourself, Feed your Family

• Webinars for breastfeeding parents

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) (517) 241-3740

michigan.gov/mdhhs/adult-child-serv

The MDHHS provides services and programs that promote a healthy, safe, and stable environment for Michigan residents to be self-sufficient.

Services:

• Adoption and foster care

• Immunizations

• Child welfare services: (866) 540-0008

• Child support: (877) 452-5324

• Report abuse and neglect: (855) 444-3911

• Child health insurance: (888) 988-6300

*Note: Some services provided by specific organizations may require financial compensation. West Bloomfield Township Public Library is sharing information about each organization but does not endorse any specific organization.

*Note: Some services provided by specific organizations may require financial compensation. West Bloomfield Township Public Library is sharing information about each organization but does not endorse any specific organization.

Oakland County Health Division

(248) 858-1280

bit.ly/OaklandHealth

The Oakland County Health Division provides health services for the public, businesses, and educational communities.

Services:

• Child passenger safety

• Vision screening

• Hearing screening

• Dental health

• Nurse family partnerships

• Nurse on Call: (800) 848-5533

Oakland Family Services (248) 858-7766

oaklandfamilyservices.org

Oakland Family Services is a private, nonprofit human service organization. OFS offers a continuum of prevention, education and treatment services that span the human life cycle, enrich the lives of children, strengthen families, and rebuild lives.

Services:

• Adoption and foster care

• Parents as teachers

• Mental health support

• Before 3 to Succeed

• Early childhood programs including GSRP, Preschool, Day One

• Day One: mental health and substance use services

• Fussy baby program

Orchard's Children's Services (248) 258-0440 orchards.org

Orchard's Children's Services provides services

Disability Resources

for children experiencing out-of-home placements as well as offers preventative services to maintain children with their families.

Services:

• Adoption and foster care

• Family reunification

• Parenting and caregiver workshops

West Bloomfield Youth Assistance (248) 592-1278

wbyouthassistance.org

West Bloomfield Youth Assistance is a non-profit organization that offers professional counseling services and conducts prevention programs for youth and their families who live within the West Bloomfield School District.

Services:

• Caseworker services

• Mentor programs

• Behavioral support

• Family-centered counseling

• Parenting on the Go Webinar series

• Youth recognition awards

These resources will help you and your child navigate disability services. These services provide helpful information for children with specific emotional, social, behavioral, and medical needs.

The Arc of Oakland County (248) 816-1900

thearcoakland.org

The Arc of Oakland County is a non-profit organization that advocates for the rights and full participation of all children and adults with intellectual and other related developmental disabilities.

Services:

• Disability advocacy

Autism Alliance of Michigan (877) 463-2266

autismallianceofmichigan.org

This organization raises expectations and expands opportunities for people touched by autism.

Services:

• Autism support, education, and advocacy

• Michigan Parent, Advocate and Attorney Coalition (MiPAAC)

• Autism resource center and directory

• Vocational training

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) (248) 988-6716

chadd.org

An organization focused on improving the lives of people affected by ADHD.

Services:

• ADHD information, support, and advocacy

• Training and family events for ADHD

DEAF C.A.N. (Deaf Community Advocacy Network)

(248) 332-3331 Voice

(248) 209-6437 VP

deafcan.org

DEAF C.A.N. is a non-profit organization that provides services to Deaf and hard of hearing people living in southeastern Michigan.

Services:

• Sign language and behavioral health services

• Professional development center

• Interpretation services

• Sign language class information

Down Syndrome Guild of Southeast Michigan

(248) 556-5341

dsgsemi.org

Down Syndrome Guild of Southeast Michigan has a mission to provide support, resources, and advocacy for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and caregivers with the aim of increasing educational and employment opportunities for them as well as increasing community awareness.

Services:

• Inclusive programs for individuals with Down syndrome

• Down syndrome support, education, and advocacy

Easterseals Michigan (248) 475-6400

easterseals.com/michigan

Easterseals helps individuals with disabilities and special needs and their families, from child development centers to physical rehabilitation and job training.

Services:

• Child behavioral and health services

• Autism services

• Early intervention services

• Trauma assessment services

• Mental health and substance abuse support

• Vocational training

Epilepsy Foundation (248) 351-7979

epilepsymichigan.org

Together with the national office of the Epilepsy Foundation, the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan leads the fight to overcome the

challenges of living with epilepsy and to accelerate therapies to stop seizures, find cures, and save lives.

Services:

• Seizure first aid and disability awareness training

• Epilepsy education, support, and advocacy

Friendship Circle (248) 788-7878

friendshipcircle.org

Friendship Circle creates friendship in the lives of individuals with special needs and those facing isolation while providing an opportunity to become a contributing member of the community. Through programming, Friendship Circle aims to promote an inclusive community that values all individuals regardless of the challenges they face.

Services:

• Special Needs programs, including sports and camps

• Parent resources and seminars

• Friends@Home teen volunteers

• Sibling support

• Vocational training

Judson Center (248) 549-4339

judsoncenter.org

Judson Center provides therapeutic, behavioral, and support services that improve the quality of life for individuals with special needs including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD),

Miscellaneous Resources

social/emotional or behavior disorders.

Services:

• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

• Social skills groups

• Parent support and advocacy groups

• Inclusive summer programs

Michigan Alliance for Families

(800) 552-4821

michiganallianceforfamilies.org

Michigan Alliance for Families provides information, support, and education for families who have children and young adults (birth to 26 years of age) who receive (or may be eligible to receive) special education services.

Services:

• Early intervention services

• IEP information (navigating an IEP, IEP verbiage and how to read an IEP)

• Support for parents in leadership or caregiver roles

Special Olympics Michigan (989) 774-3911

somi.org

The mission of Special Olympics Michigan is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Services:

• Health, sports, and team-based activities for children with special needs

• Parent support, resources, and information about intellectual disabilities

These organizations offer additional services to support families and children in the greater West Bloomfield area.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (248) 473-1400

bgcsm.org

Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan

empowers youth to reach their full potential as change agents for their life, Club, and community while ensuring youth are career, startup, and homeowner ready before they leave the Clubs at 18 years old.

Services:

• Art, leadership, edutainment, health, and fitness programs

• Vocational training

*Note: Some services provided by specific organizations may require financial compensation. West Bloomfield Township Public Library is sharing information about each organization but does not endorse any specific organization.

Centro Multicultural La Familia (248) 858-7800

centromulticultural.org

Centro Multicultural La Familia’s mission is to provide culturally-competent support services to families in a holistic approach in order to improve their quality of life.

Services:

• Youth mental health and first aid

• ESL classes & immigrant guide workshops

• Health education

• Cultural competence training

• Bilingual health education

• Interpretation and translation services

West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation

(248) 451-1900

wbparks.org

West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation is looking to continuously imagine the future of recreation, wellness, and green spaces that will encourage our diverse community to develop connections with nature and one another, ultimately contributing to the vibrancy of life in West Bloomfield.

Services:

• Programs and events for adults, families, and children, including youth camps

Additional Resources

Catholic Charities (855) 882-2736

ccsem.org

Christian Family Services (248) 557-8390

cfs-michigan.org

Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit (248) 661-1000

jccdet.org

Jewish Family Services (248) 592-2300

jfsdetroit.org

Muslim Family ServicesICNA Relief (313) 366-6800

Icnarelief.org/michigan

How to Choose the Best Preschool for your Child

Finding the right preschool or early childhood facility for your child can be overwhelming. The West Bloomfield Township Public Library can help. This booklet provides information and tips to help you make decisions about finding the best preschool for your child.

Learning is Child’s Play

Looking for new toy or play ideas? Ask the Youth Information Desk for a copy of Learning is Child’s Play to learn more about the value of play and how to choose age-appropriate toys that encourage your child to explore, discover, create, and learn.