
Harford County Infants & Toddlers
April 2024 Resource Newsletter
Infants & Toddlers
Save the Date!
The Annual Infants & Toddlers Summer Kickoff has been scheduled for Friday, May 17th, 3-5 PM at Schucks Regional Park. We hope you will be able to join us. Invitations with the registration link will go out later this month. Mark your calendars!
Upcoming Programs for Families
Parent Representative
The Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LICC) is a collaborative effort between school staff, community partners, local government representatives and parents. Meetings focus on supporting the Birth-Five population receiving early intervention services. It is an opportunity to ask questions, provide input, and learn more about what is happening in the community.
LICC wants you! We would love to have more parent input as we talk about the issues that impact you and your family. We want to hear your ideas, suggestions and feedback.
LICC meets four times a year (October, January, March and May) on Thursday mornings from 9-10 am. The next meeting is scheduled for May 9th and will be virtual.
If you are interested in participating in LICC or would like to learn more, please reach out to Missy Romano at Melissa.Romano@hcps.org.
Playgroup
Join us for the Monday Playgroup! This is an opportunity for your child to play with other children and for you to connect with other parents. Playgroups are free!
Oak Grove Baptist Church has kindly offered us use of their classroom. The Church is centrally located in the County at 2106 Churchville Road in Bel Air. It is next to Harford Academy and has a large parking lot.
Interested in participating? Here's how it works:
- Join the distribution list. Notices about Playgroup will only be sent out to those on the distribution list in order to minimize email traffic. Click here to join.
- You will receive a weekly email with a registration link for the upcoming session. If you are able to participate that week, use the link to register. We limit the number of families due to the size of the room.
- Registered families will receive a reminder text the day before Playgroup.
Little Movers - An Infant Playgroup
Caregivers of little ones, age birth-14 months, are invited to join us for a monthly Infant Playgroup called Little Movers. Facilitated by a physical therapist and educator, we will focus on strategies for tummy time and motor development.
The next meeting is on Tuesday, May 21st, 11-11:45, at Oak Grove Baptist Church. If you would like to participate, please join our Infant Distribution List. Registration links for each meeting will be sent one week prior to those who have expressed an interest.
Feeding Support Group
Does your child have feeding challenges? Join us for the Infants & Toddlers Feeding Support Group. Our mission is to help families empower each other through education and support to meet the needs of their children as they grow and develop.
We meet once a month, alternating Tuesdays and Thursday, at 6:30 pm. The next virtual meeting is Tuesday, April 16th at 5:30. We will be discussing the difference between choking and gagging, CPR for choking/safety ideas, and food to promote chewing.
If you are interested, please reach out to Kim Driver at Kimberly.Driver@hcps.org.
Community Information & Resources
Cool Harford Schools
Cool Harford Schools highlights Harford Academy in it's most recent episode. Not only is Harford Academy home to Infants & Toddlers (and location of our Annual Holiday Party!), but it is a wonderful school family that supports students of differing abilities.
Ever wonder what Harford Academy is like? Watch the latest episode of Cool Harford School here.
Parents' Place of Maryland
Parents' Place of Maryland (PPMD) is a great organization that provides resources, support, and information to parents of children with disabilities and special health care needs. Their April newsletter highlights Autism resources in recognition of Autism Awareness Month. It is full of resources and information! Check it out here.
Parent Social Emotional Home Supports
LOCATE: Child Care
LOCATE is part of Maryland Family Network. Click here to visit their website.
Special Education Citizen’s Advisory Committee (SECAC)
During the school year, SECAC offers workshops and meetings on a variety of topics for families of children receiving special education services. Meeting topics have included Coaching Your Child to Thrive with Their ADHD Brain, Navigating Caregiver Burnout, HCPS Special Education Panel and The IEP Meeting. Their next meeting is scheduled for May 16th and will focus on Empowered High School Tranisitons.
SECAC is a partnership between families, Harford County Public Schools and community organizations in support of the needs of children with disabilities. Meetings are FREE and open to the public. To learn more about SECAC and for registration links for upcoming programs, visit their Facebook page.
Food Pantries
Healthy Harford has published a listing of reliable, repeating food giveaways. If you are need of assistance, check out this the flyer. It is organized by day of the week and provides addresses for food assistance. January 2024 English (healthyharford.org)
Partners for Success Newsletter
Partners for Success is part of Harford County Public Schools and works with families of school-aged children. Megan Fitzgerald, Coordinator for Partners for Success, provides information about community services, assists families in resolving concerns, and helps to increase parental involvement in the special education decision making process. Check it out! Click here to view the Partners for Success Newsletter.
Growing on the Spectrum
Coffee and Conversations with Parents Place of Maryland
Resource: 2-1-1 Maryland
2-1-1 Maryland is a resource that brings together four agencies to provide simple access to health and human services information. What can they help with? Affordable housing, food, employment training, utility payment assistance, services for their children or aging parents, and many other issues. The 2-1-1 database has information on nearly 5,000 agencies and programs across the state of Maryland.
Help is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Just call 2-1-1.
Infants & Toddlers
About us
Email: Carie.Sadowski@hcps.org
Website: www.hcps.org
Location: 100 Thomas Run Road, Bel Air, MD, USA
Phone: 410-638-3823
Facebook: facebook.com/HCPSchools