FAMILY UPDATES

For Parents, Grandparents, Caregivers! You are NOT alone! Join us for dinner and real talk. Discover what makes your family strong. And learn where to go for support. Cick here to watch a video, read what parents are saying and get more information about Parent Cafes!

Schedule & Locations

• October 21st, 5:30– 7:30 pm

  Goodwill Headquarters 271 E Apple Ave, Muskegon

• November 4th, 4–6 pm

  Muskegon Heights Academy 2441 Sanford St.

• November 12th, 5:30–7:30

  St. James Lutheran 8945 Stebbins, Montague

• December 2nd, 5:30–7:30

  Lake Harbor United Methodist 4861 Henry St., Norton Shores

Childcare available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Register for an upcoming Parent Cafe now.

Find reading support and learning fun for all ages at Read Muskegon, 231-747-7273, 2709 Peck St., Muskegon Heights.

Click here for program flyers with details about:

• ABCs of Music for ages 3-5 at Read Muskegon
• Afterschool tutoring for all ages at Read Muskegon AND
• ABC's of Cooking for ages 3-5 in Whitehall

Find activities to help you talk, read, sing, sign, explore, & create at home with the 2026 Little and Mini Read books. Connect to county-wide events, a book for everyone in your family, a community art project, a civic adventure, and an author visit on November 17th! Click the button below for details!

Wondering if you child is sitting, smiling, walking, talking. expressing their emotions, coping with change or playing with others as they should?

Want to know when your child should be counting, jumping, singing the ABCs?

Want to get connected to resources such as:

• preschool or childcare
• playgroups, library programs or parent support
• local resource?

HELP ME GROW is your one stop for support! Just call or text now! 844.464.0005 OR Complete a Help Me Grow inquiry form

The Angel Tree applications are open NOW! Click here to get to the registration page. You can also visit the Salvation Army on Facebook.

Muskegon County has lots of fun learning opportunities for families! From library reading programs to Play and Learn groups and parent meetups—it can be a lot to keep track of. But we’re here to help.

• Sign up for LANTERN (formerly Bright by Text)! You'll get weekly texts with new family events and helpful resources.
• Visit our Community Calendar regularly to find new events for families in the Muskegon County.
• Save this newsletter and refresh it often to see new additions.
• Click here to enter to win a $25 Meijer gift card AND get connected to up to date community information.

Turn everyday chores into early learning for your youngest children! Talk, Read and Sing while you do your laundry- or bring the kits home for later. 8 am - 8 pm daily!

Pick up your take home literacy kit today:

• Suds Laundromat, 2719 Sanford Street
• 2300 Glade Street Muskegon MI

Click here or visit readearly.org to find activities by theme or select book titles to enjoy at home. Download coloring page, scavenger hunts, find links to music, videos and more.

Join the MI Lakeshore Kids Facebook group to share and find more fun events near Muskegon, Ottawa and Oceana Counties!

Free preschool is expanding for children who will be three or four years old by December 1, 2026.Call 231-767-8300 or fill out an interest form here to find out if there is still an opening in your chosen district!

Click here to find your school and links to the enrollment pages of all Muskegon County School districts half way down on the MAISD Kindergarten Enrollment page.

FREE tuition in an approved local vocational training center, Muskegon Community College, Nuvo College of Cosmetology or Baker College for recent high school grads from 2015 or later with the PROMISE! No more GPA requirement! Click here to learn more at the Muskegon Area Promise!

With Michigan Reconnect, adults over 21 canpursue an associate degree or skills certificate, tuition-free. Read more about MI Reconnect and apply at muskegoncc.edu Recent Grads can also get get free or half off tuition at their local community college with the Michigan Community College Guarantee. Read More about the Community College Guarantee at muskegoncc.edu.

Join one of two FREE virtual sessions. Learn about the child care licensing process, get practical small business tips and resources, and find out what it takes to get started and build a sustainable child care business.

Click here to register for the session on September 18th 1-3pm.

Click here to register for the session on September 25th, 6-8 pm.

Starting January 1, 2027, some adults applying for or already receiving Medicaid in MI, will need to work or complete other approved activities to keep their health coverage.

Many people that need to meet this new requirement may already be doing so through work, school or other approved activities and some others may qualify for an exemption. Learn more by clicking here to get to the State of MI website about Medicaid benefits in MI.

New Bridge Cards will Mailed in August! Make sure your address is correct in Michigan.gov/MIBridges. The old card will work until you activate your new card. Old cards will stop working on 10/30 so if you ahve not reeived your new card by 9/25, call 1-888-678-8914. Click here to read more about the NEW Michigan Bridge Card.

NEW patient transportation program is available to all HCC patients with a scheduled appointment—whether at an HCC location or with a specialty provider. This program is offered in partnership with Pioneer Resources, Inc. has no geographic limits, and utilizes fully accessible vans to support patients with varying mobility needs. Call 231-737-1335 to schedule.

Visit https://www.hackleycommunitycare.org/resources to learn more.

Visit CALL 211 at Hackley Public Library!

• Thursdays from 1-4pm
• 313 Webster Ave, Muskegon

Find Help with: Food, household items, mental health, employment, financial support, Benefits, Bill Pay Assistance, Transportation, Housing, Education, Senior Services, Personal Items, Substance Use, Health Care, and Disaster Services.