Skip to Main Content

Helpful Resources

 

Helpful Resources
HERE’S A LIST TO GET YOU STARTED

There are many agencies across the state and in our communities that focus on early childhood development. This list of trusted resources is a starting point and will provide you with ideas for helping your child learn.

Parent/Caregiver
Educator/Community Partner
Let's Learn - Man reading with a child

Resources About Early Learning Programs

A smiling woman holds up one finger as several children look on.

What is an “early learning program”?

An early learning program provides early care and education for children from birth to kindergarten. This includes childcare centers, family-childcare homes, preschool, Early Head Start, and Head Start.

A little girl wearing glasses with purple frames smiles as she looks up toward the camera.

Why is a high-quality early learning program important?

Healthy child development depends on safe and positive experiences in the first years of life. Choosing the right early learning program is important.

A smiling woman sits at a table between two little kids playing with items on the table.

What should I look for in high-quality early learning programs?

Your child needs a program that will keep them safe, healthy, and learning. Use these tips when looking for a high-quality early learning program.

Three little kids smiling.

How do I become involved with my child’s early care program?

Teamwork is essential to your child’s success. Building a partnership with all the people who care for your child will help them grow and learn.

A woman in a green tee sitting cross-legged on the floor with several kids all holding up four fingers.

Kentucky All STARS

Programs are rated based on measures of quality. Ratings can help families choose high-quality childcare. Ask your early childhood education provider about their STARS rating.

Resources for Finding Early Learning Programs

Two little kids sitting on the floor with colored blocks.

Child Care Aware

Child Care Aware of Kentucky is the statewide regional network for Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) services supporting access to safe, affordable, quality child care for families.

An illustration of a woman holding a baby; a person in a wheelchair; a man, woman and two kids standing together; and a person in a soccer uniform holding a soccer ball.

Search for child care providers in nine languages.

^ Top

Kentucky Resources for Child Development

A smiling woman seated on the ground holding a smiling baby who is looking upward. Trees and grass are behind them.

HANDS

The Kentucky Health Access Nurturing Development Services (HANDS) program is a voluntary home visitation program for any new or expectant parents.

Two little kids playing in a plastic tunnel.

Help Me Grow KY

Help Me Grow Kentucky is a FREE and CONFIDENTIAL call center for families, health providers, and community service providers offering developmental screening and connection to local services and learning activities that support healthy growth for children, ages 0-5.

Several little kids seated cross-legged on the floor working on electronic tablets.

Being Kindergarten Ready

Kids who are ready for kindergarten are curious, focused and ready for exciting new learning experiences.

Four kids lying on their stomach on the grass looking at a picture book.

Family Guides

The Family Guides are a companion to the Kentucky Early Childhood Standards, housed in the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood and first developed in ​2003, by a statewide workgroup of representative stakeholders in early care and education. The Family Guides align directly to the Standards and the best practices of KET’s Let’s Learn Kentucky.

A smiling woman guides the hand of a smiling little girl as they work at a table.

Kentucky Department of Education

KDE provides information about Kentucky preschool and primary education programs.

A woman holding a smiling child in her lap who faces a smiling woman with a stethoscope around her neck and wearing blue vinyl gloves.

Immunization Outreach

The resources provided on this site were compiled by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services to strengthen and support vaccination efforts in communities across Kentucky. On-time vaccination during childhood is crucial. Vaccinations help to provide immunity before children are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases.

^ Top

National Resources for Childhood Development

A little kid sitting on a couch looks at a smiling woman who is seated next to him and reading a book with him.

Any Time Is 3Ts Time

The 3Ts—Tune In, Talk More, and Take Turns—are a simple, yet powerful tool to help parents make the most of everyday interactions with their children. The 3Ts help parents optimize the power of language in everyday moments.

A smiling woman with her arms around a smiling baby in her lap.

CDC Learn the Signs Campaign

From birth to 5 years, your child should reach milestones in how he plays, learns, speaks, acts and moves. Track your child’s development and act early if you have a concern.

A close-up of two little kids. One smiling kid holds her hands up with several colors of paint on her fingers and palms.

NAEYC for Families

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research.

A smiling woman lying on her stomach on the floor looks over the shoulder of a little girl in front of her.

PBS Parents

Explore parent resources to help you raise kind, curious and resilient children. Find parenting tips, hands-on activities, games, and apps featuring your favorite PBS KIDS characters.

Big Bird, a little girl, and a woman walking hand-in-hand along a sidewalk with trees and a building in the background.

Sesame Street for Families

Your care and support can make a huge difference in the life of a young child. Sesame Street is here for you with activities and tips for the challenges and joys along the way.

A smiling woman lying on her stomach on the floor plays with blocks with a baby next to her.

Zero to Three

Zero to Three works to ensure that babies and toddlers benefit from the family and community connections critical to their well-being and development. Healthy connections help build babies’ brains.

^ Top

Resources for Children with Disabilities

An adult smiles at a child in a swing while pushing the swing seat

First Steps

First Steps is a statewide early intervention system that provides services to children with developmental disabilities from birth to age 3 and their families. 

Three smiling women wear clear face masks that cover their noses and mouths.

Kentucky Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

The KCDHH acts as an advocate for deaf and hard-of-hearing persons on legislative issues as well as a consultant to the governor, General Assembly, and various state and local governmental agencies concerning policies and programs that pertain to people with hearing loss. 

Four smiling children face the camera. Two of them rest their arms on the table in front of them.

Kentucky Advisory Council on Autism

The Kentucky Advisory Council on Autism (KYACA) promotes collaborative efforts and advocates to improve systems of supports for individuals with autism.

A close-up of two smiling kids with other children in the background.

KY-SPIN

The mission of KY-SPIN, Inc. (Kentucky Special Parent Involvement Network) is to link families and individuals with disabilities to valuable resources that will enable them to live productive, fulfilling lives.

A smiling woman holds a clear plastic bag that a smiling girl next to her is reaching into.

Office for Children with Special Health Care Needs

The Office for Children with Special Health Care Needs (OCSHCN) provides comprehensive care to children and youth with special health care needs.

A boy wearing glasses leans over a book with pictures, text, and Braille.

Visually Impaired Preschool Services

VIPS provides early intervention services to children who are blind or visually impaired, helping children gain independence and unlock their true potential.

^ Top

Resources for Finding Benefits

Three kids with their arms around each others' shoulders face away from the camera toward trees in the background.

Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program (KCHIP)

The Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program (KCHIP) is free health insurance for children younger than 19 without health insurance. Children in families with incomes less than 213 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible.

An illustration of a little girl with hands on hips, a woman with a pamphlet, a man in a doctor's coat, and a woman in scrubs with a counter and windows behind them.

kynect

The Commonwealth of Kentucky’s space for you to connect with state assistance resources.

Spread the Word

Let’s Learn Kentucky is a tool to empower your work as well as to share with parents and caregivers. These resources and easy promotional ideas can kick-start your outreach!

Social media share

Social Media

No matter what social media platforms you and your team utilize, we’ve pulled together photos and video (.zip) and a YouTube clip that are ready to share! And you can download suggested post copy here. (.pdf)

Get the word out word bubbles

Word of Mouth

Your community is your biggest resource. Get the word out by including the Let’s Learn logo (.jpg) and QR code (.jpg) on your materials and printing these co-brandable flyers and bookmarks (.pdf).

Let's Get Started on post it notes with a toolkit next to it

Getting Started

With so much great content it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Start with this outreach toolkit (.pdf) to find ideas for reaching families, caregivers and your community.