Resources for Parents of Infants and Young Children
Early Intervention for Infants and Toddlers
First Steps EIP
First Steps EIP is a program from the Mississippi State Department of Health that matches the unique needs of infants and toddlers who have developmental delays, or a birth condition that could cause a developmental delay, with Early Intervention services and resources within the community.
Early Childhood Special Education
The Mississippi Department of Education’s Early Childhood Special Education page provides information on MS Dept. of Education programs and resources for technical assistance.
Medicaid & CHIP
The Mississippi Children’s Health Insurance Program provides health insurance for eligible families in Mississippi.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program
WIC is a special supplemental food program for pregnant, breastfeeding, and post-partum women, infants, and children under five years of age. WIC helps you and your baby get healthy foods and healthy advice in the first years of life. Visit WIC at the Mississippi State Department of Health.
Child Development Online Resources
Understanding how children grow and what things are needed to make sure their growth is healthy is important for anyone caring for them. Below is a list of online resources about child development:
| Article | Source |
|---|---|
| What is Early Childhood Development? | Center on the Developing Child — Harvard University |
| Early Childhood Mental Health | Center on the Developing Child — Harvard University |
| Child Care Aware of America | Organization that helps families connect with needed child care. |
| Child Find | About the Child Find program and how it works to seek out and help children who need special education. |
| Child Find—Mississippi Department of Education | Child Find at the Mississippi Department of Education |
| Childhood Nutrition | Healthychildren.org’s nutrition information guidance for children at every stage. |
| Early Development & Well-Being | Parenting resource from Zero to Three. |
| Creating Routines for Love and Learning | Parenting resource from Zero to Three. |
| The Importance of Schedules and Routines | Head Start at US Department of Health & Human Services |
| School Readiness Resources for Parents | Microsite from National Association for the Education of Young Children |
| Mississippi Newborn Screenings | MS Department of Health information on genetic testing and newborn screening procedures. |
| Developmental Monitoring and Screening | Centers for Disease Control |
| First Steps IEP | Mississippi early intervention program from MS Department of Health |
| Family Enrichment Activities | MS Department of Education |