Healthy Start of Clackamas County

What is Healthy Start | Get Involved | Referral | Contact | Parent Events | Play Groups | Community Resources | Partners  (En Español)

Healthy Start/Healthy Families On-Line Referral Form

"May all children and families be safe, happy and healthy."

Mission: “Promote and support positive parenting and healthy growth and development for all Clackamas County parents and their first-born children.”

HEALTHY START SERVICES ARE VOLUNTARY AND FREE!!
INCOME LEVEL DOES NOT MATTER.

Raising a family and having a child in today's world is a big responsibility. It's not always easy to know the "right" thing to do as a parent-who to turn to with a question or who to talk to when things seem overwhelming. We understand that you are your child's first and best teacher, and we want to help you be the best parent you can be. Every child deserves a healthy start!

Many new parents want information about how babies and young children grow and develop. They also want to know what they can do to best support their child’s healthy development and growing brain. Healthy Start is here to help with that by providing home visits and one-on-one parenting support to first time parents.

In recent years as researchers have studied the developing brain we have learned some very important things:

• The parent/child relationship is the foundation of the child’s healthy development.
• Children’s development depends on both the traits he or she was born with (nature) and what he or she experiences (nurture.)
• All areas of development (social/emotional/intellectual/language/motor) are linked. Each depends on, and influences, the others.
• What children experience, including how their parents respond to them, shapes their development as they adapt to the world.

Who is Eligible for Healthy Start?

Anyone in Clackamas County who is expecting or has had their first child in the past three months may be eligible to receive home visits and one-on-one parenting support. All other Clackamas County families with children ages 0-5 may join our play groups. Parenting classes are also offered through Camp Fire USA.

What is Healthy Start?

We are a collaborative group of social services agencies, early childhood educators, family support workers and volunteers who offer support and services to parents of children ages 0-5 in Clackamas County. We offer a variety of services that give information about parenting, bonding with your baby, healthy infant growth and development as well as resources in your community.

Healthy Start Services:

• One-on-one parenting support and home visits to first-time parents and their child
• Parent/child interactive playgroups throughout Clackamas County

How Do I Get Involved?

You can tap into our services at no charge because we are funded by grants and private donations. We can answer your questions over the phone, come to your home and meet your family, visit you in the hospital when you have your baby-whatever is convenient and easy for you.

Call Denise at 503-546-6533 for information about home visits and referrals (Spanish too!)

If you would like to fill out our on line form and receive a phone call with more information about Healthy Start, please click here, fill in your information and click submit. We’ll be happy to have someone contact you and help find the resources that will best fit your needs.

Hearing impaired, Speech impaired or Deaf TTY 1-800-735-2900 (Relay).
To FAX a referral: 503-655-8145

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Upcoming Events for Parents: 

There are some really fun activities going on at the Gladstone Center for Children and Families this summer!! We hope to see you there!!

Twice Around the Block

We are a Children’s and Maternity Consignment Sale that occurs TWICE a year in Clackamas County. We are proud to provide an event that is as much our consignor's and volunteer's sale as it is ours! We hope to turn our shoppers and consignors into repeat customers and are already looking forward to seeing your familiar faces!

Milwaukie Elks BALLROOM (North of The Bomber)
13121 SE McLoughlin Blvd.
Milwaukie, OR 97222

Friday, October 1st 10am-8pm
Saturday, October 2nd 10am-7pm
Sunday, October 3rd 9am-1pm (many items are 50% off)
NO LARGE BAGS/BACKPACKS ALLOWED INSIDE!
REUSABLE SHOPPING BAGS ENCOURAGED!

PRESALE FOR CONSIGNORS, VOLUNTEERS AND NEW/FOSTER MOMS

Thursday, September 30th from 3PM-8PM
3PM-8PM -Volunteers who work 3 or more shifts
4PM-8PM -Volunteers who work 1-2 shifts
5PM-8PM -Consignors
6PM-8PM -Registered New/Foster Moms (Deadline to register is 7AM, 9/28/10)

50% OFF PRESALE FOR CONSIGNORS AND VOLUNTEERS

Saturday, October 2nd
5PM-7PM -Volunteers and Consignors

DROP-OFF

Wednesday, September 29th 2pm-8pm
Thursday, September 30th 9am-1pm

PICK-UP

Sunday, October 3rd 5:00pm-6:30pm

PARENT AND CHILD PLAYGROUPS:

SUMMER 2010 COME PLAY WITH US!
9 PARENT & CHILD COMMUNITY PLAYGROUPS TO CHOOSE FROM!
FREE FOR ALL FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES BIRTH to 5
NOTE: Through summer, if you are new, please call in advance to confirm meeting location. some playgroups meet at a park in summer.       

• CANBY - TUESDAYS, 10:00-11:30AM  -  Bethany Church, 450 S. Ivy St. SPANISH & ENGLISH. For information, call volunteer Yvonne 503-860-8364.  The second Tuesday of every month (6/8, 7/13, 8/10) we will also meet at Legacy Park (weather permitting) located next to Ackerman Middle School as well as at the church location. You may choose what is best for you!

• CLACKAMAS -  TUESDAYS, 10-11:30AM, INDOOR PLAY PARK SETTING.  Valleyview Church,  11501 SE Sunnyside Rd, Clackamas. www.valley-view.org.  For information call Eileen 503-698-6000.  Enter at north entrance – go down the stairs and meet us in the gym!

• GLADSTONE (2 DAYS) - MONDAYS 12:15-1:45PM, and THURSDAYS 10-11:30AM. Moving  from Friday  to Thursday from 6/17/-9/2.  Gladstone Center for Children and Families, 18905 Portland Ave. Gladstone, OR 97027.  INDOOR PLAY PARK SETTING WITH A COVERED OUTDOOR PLAY AREA! For more information, call volunteer Shawna at 503-780-6779

• MILWAUKIE -  WEDNESDAYS, 10-11:30AM. Milwaukie Christian Church,  5197 SE King Rd. For information, call 503-655-8601. www.milwaukiechristian.org for directions. We will meet on July 28 at a local park – TBA. The church is unavailable  that week.

• OREGON CITY  -  TUESDAYS, 10:00 - 11:30AM.  We will meet at Chapin Park during the summer starting 6/15. 340 Warner Parrot Road, OC. Check in at shelter.  On rainy days, we will be at OC United Methodist Church, 18955 South End Rd.  (South of Warner Parrot Rd.)  Questions?  Jill at 503-380-3208.

• SANDY -  WEDNESDAYS, 10:30AM-NOON, Sandy Adult Community Center, 38348 Pioneer Blvd. 1st and 3rd week we will meet at the Center and the 2nd and 4th week at Meinig Park. For more information call volunteer Joscelyn at 503-826-9609.

• STAFFORD/TUALATIN - MONDAYS, 10:00 -11:30AM.  Rolling Hills Community Church, 3550 SW Borland Rd., Tualatin (off Stafford Rd. near I-205 and Wankers Corner). Come in the west entrance of the building and look for the street post (39 Malachi St) and follow the “Parents with Infants” sign. Look for rooms 109 & 110. For information, call volunteer Gabrielle at 503-706-7334. www.rollinghills.org/directions.cfm

• WEST LINN - WEDNESDAYS, 10:00-11:30AM.  Sunset Fire Hall,  2215 Long St. West Linn (next to Sunset Park). JUNE 17 through September 1 we meet at Sunset Park near the park.  NO HOST PLAYGROUP. For more information, call 503-655-8234.

 Other Community Resources:

Healthy Start Partners:
Clackamas County Children's Commission
Clackamas County Social Services - Volunteer Connection
Clackamas County Children, Youth & Families Division

Children, Youth & Families Division
Contact: Erin Deahn, Healthy Start Program Administrator – 503-496-3937
FAX: 503-655-8145
edeahn@co.clackamas.or.us