Outreach and Navigation

Ready by Five millage funding has allowed for the creation of an Outreach and Navigation network by developing a multi-agency strategy to reach and engage families in a coordinated way. Outreach aims to increase the usage of early childhood programs and community resources by engaging future parents and families with young children who are not currently involved or aware of available services. As needs are identified, navigation helps address barriers to accessing services, information, and resources.

• Family Futures Connections Program helps families track their child's milestones at home through developmental screenings and then provides monthly activities and age-specific materials to promote the child's learning and growth. Through Connections, each family can also access a Family Support Navigator to answer questions about their child’s development and connect the family to community resources.
• Through an extensive network of community partnerships, Health Net of West Michigan , offers outreach, consultation, and care coordination to ensure parents fully access community resources for basic needs, health care, and early childhood programs.
• Kent ISD’s Child Care Navigation resource helps families find the best early learning settings for their children. The Child Care Navigators create a custom search for licensed childcare providers in Kent County that have current openings in their program based on a family’s specific preferences such as location, type of provider, special needs care, and more. Integrated support from Vibrant Futures enables families to both determine their eligibility and navigate the application process for scholarship programs that help lower the cost of child care.