Community Resources
There to support you in your parenting journey
Home Visiting Programs
How children grow, develop, and how to teach them
- First Chance for Children
- focused around child development, family activities, and parental support
- Lutheran Family and Children’s Services
- focused on providing support for parents considering adoption
- Parents as Teachers
- focused on child development and parent-child interactions
- Columbia/Boone County Public Health Department
- for mothers in their first or second trimester of pregnancy
Family Support
Meeting and talking with other parents
- Lend and Learn Libraries
- a free place to play with your children ages 0-5 and meet other parents
Parenting support groups
- The Caring People
- for single mothers
- Central Missouri Grand Family Support Group
- for grandparents or others raising grandchildren
- Columbia Mothers of Multiples Club
- for mothers of multiples
- La Leche League
- for breastfeeding mothers
- Lutheran Family and Children’s Services
- for individuals who are struggling as a parent
Childcare
Locating daycare/preschools
- Child Care Aware of Missouri
- they will listen to your needs and help connect you to a program that’s right for your family
Paying for preschool or respite care
- Family Support Division
- assists eligible parents with payments for childcare
Respite Care
- Rainbow House
- free respite care for children ages birth to 18 years old
Financial Assistance
Support for necessities
- First Chance for Children
- diapers, cribs, carseats, formula, clothing, and hygiene items
- WIC
- formula, food
- CMCA
- utility payments
- Voluntary Action Center
- rent payments
- The Wardrobe
- clothing
- Love Inc.
- clothing
- furniture
- Safe Kids
- car seats
- The Food Bank
- food
Job training
Medical & Healthcare Needs
Doctor and dentist for family and child
- Family Impact Center
- Medzou- free primary healthcare to uninsured or those waiting for their coverage to begin
- Tiger Pedatrics- vaccinations, sick vists, and well-child check-ups
- Family Health Center
- affordable healthcare and dental care
- WIC
- education, food, and health screenings for pregnant women, new mothers, and their babies up to age 5
- MO Healthnet
- Missouri’s medicaid program
Screening and support for delays and disabilities
- First Chance for Children
- developmental screenings for children ages 0-5
- Parents as Teachers
- developmental, hearing, and vision screenings, and screenings for public preschool
- Missouri First Steps
- screening and therapy for developmental delays for children ages 0-3
- MU Thompson Center
- screening and therapy for autism and other disorders
- Boone County Family Resources
- therapy and services for individuals with developmental disabilities
- FACE
- free screening and assessments for social, emotional, and behavioral concerns
- BPI
- screening and therapy for autism and other disorders
Counseling
- MU Psychological Services
- therapy for child and adults with a wide variety of concerns
- Family Counseling Center
- counseling, psychiatry, and psychological assessments for children and adults
- Family Impact Center: IBHC
- free behavioral healthcare for adults
Other Support
Summer/ Before and after school care
- Adventure Club
- for kindergarten through 5th grade
- Boys & Girls Club
- for kindergarten through high school
- Fun City Youth Academy
- summer and Saturday programming
Mentoring
- Job Point
- to help explore careers, job readiness, and personal skills
- Love Inc
- money management coaching
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters
- mentoring for kids
Domestic Violence Support
- True North
- counseling and emergency shelter
But wait! There's More!
Find information that's right for you and your family. Together, we can ensure all children are ready for school, ready for life.
Child Development
It can be challenging to know if your child is on track, and what signs to look for. Here you'll find information the latest child development along with helpful tips on supporting your child.
Play & Activities
For children, playing is learning, but coming up with new and exciting ways to challenging their rapidly growing brains can be exhausting. Here you'll find ideas and information about play.
Family Health & Safety
There is so much research and information on the internet, it can be hard to know what's accurate. Here, we've compiled helpful, up-to-date, family health and safety resources.
Reading With Children
Reading with children from birth help their brains develop and gives them skills they will use the rest of their lives. Here you'll find book ideas, tools on reading with your children, and more.
Contact Us
Not finding the information you need? Our trained staff can answer your child development and parenting questions, as well as connect you to community resources to meet your needs.