Announcements and Resources

Help Me Grow Skagit

Help Me Grow Skagit aims to offer families seamless access to community services and support so they can easily connect to what they need, when they need it. Connect families to services through Gaby Camarena, the Family Resource Navigator by call or text 360-630-8352. Visit the website at www.helpmegrowskagit.org and Click here for the English HMG Flyer and the Spanish Help Me Grow Flyer

Nurture Peer Support Program 

The Nuture program is a 1:1 text-based perinatal peer support program. All support is offered via text, with no sharing of last names, photos, etc. Parents and mentors communicate regularly. The mentor communicates via a computer program, parent gets text. They have had incredible success with engagement and retention. Parents report feeling more confident and connected with their children. Parents can sign up for Nurture at https://www.nurtureseattle.org/join

EMBERcenter Peer Support

The EMBERcenter at Western WA University is offering a text-based perinatal/parent peer support program at no cost to families (Skagit families included). Support is available to parents who are expecting a baby or have a child up to age 3. Support can be provided in any language that the support people speak—currently English and Spanish. They currently have 20 support people, three Spanish-speakers, one a Lummi member and someone who has experienced teen pregnancy and being homeless. Locally, we can connect families directly to the EMBERcenter for more info: 360-650-7535 or embercenter@gmail.com

Caregiver Handouts: Games and Activities 

Handouts in English and Spanish from Harvard's Center for the Developing Child, that build the brain's executive function skills.  Handouts are shorted by the age of the child starting at 6 months and going through adolescents.

WIC Breastfeeding Classes (open to all) 

Classes are in English and Spanish, once a month via Zoom.  July 21 & August 18th - 1pm in English and 2:15 in Spanish.  Open to all pregnant people in Skagit County. Y ou do not have to be on WIC.

Parent Map's 2022-2023 ParentEd Talk Series

The new series start in September. Check out the amazing line-up!! They are all online and free!

Family Treks - July 12 - 26

Family Treks is a FREE program for families with children 0-5 years of age. This program gives parents the opportunity to connect with other parents and share resources. Throughout the program, you will also receive additional resources to help build your confidence in getting outside and ultimately form a life-long relationship with nature.

Diaper Bank Stuff the Bus Event

Thursday, August 8th from 10AM - 4PM is the "Stuff the Bus" diaper drive at the Skagit Fairground.  The first 100 people to bring an unopened package of diapers to the Cleveland gate will receive a free ticket to the fair.

SPARC - Occupational Therapist

Plans, organizes, and conducts occupational therapy programs in a child's home, classroom or early childhood setting to facilitate developmental and rehabilitation of mentally, physically, or emotionally disabled persons.

Program Specialist - Early Learning & Care

Whatcom County Help Department is recruiting for this position to provide leadership in improving access quality, and coordination of ealry learning and care environments.

Round Table on the State of Mental Health of Children & Families in Skagit & Island County

July 19th 11:30 - 1:00 via Zoom - Join for this lunch-time conversation about how we might come together to support our communities.

Supporting Breastfeeding Families: Implementing a Primary Care Office Strategy

On August 2nd at 7AM, Jody Cousins, MD, IBCLC, will be providing a medical education event focused on supporting breastfeeding families.

Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC: 0-5 Trainings)

The Washington Association for Imfant Mental Health is hosting training opportunties for workforce development. DC: 0-5 Overview Training & Clinical DC: 0-5 Training.

The Border is Here: immigration Trauma and Loss

Barnard Center Free Lectures Series - July 26 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am, presented by Carmen Rosa Noroña, LICSW, Ms. Ed. IECMH-E® and Ivys Fernández-Pastrana, JD

Dad Allies Provider Learning Series

The Washington Fatherhood Council is hosting a provider learning series.

"Strategies for Helping Unmarried Parents Establish Co-Parenting Agreements" - July 28th 11:30 - 1pm

"Most Dads Are Not Violent. What If They Are?" - September 22nd 11:30 - 1pm.

NAEYC Annual Conference  

The conference is in Washington DC, November 16-19 in person.  Early bird registration is open now.

Help Me Grow Washington - Parent Newsletter

The newsletter is available in English and Spanish. 

Help Me Grow Washington - Partner/Provider newsletter

Read past newsletters or sign up for receive monthly emails.

Pregnancy Connections

Any family in Skagit County can call or text 360-770-7743 and be connected with a nurse who will provide local pregnancy-specific information and referral.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Starting on July 16th you can call, text, or chat 988 to connect to the National Prevention Lifeline (NSPL).  It is confidential, free, and available 24 hours, everyday. Available in Spanish and interpretation services for over 205 languages.