The Parents' Place of Maryland (PPMD), Maryland's special education and health information center, announces the launch of a new grant-funded initiative aimed at supporting families of young children in Dorchester, Wicomico and Somerset counties, along with three other Maryland counties (Allegany, Washington, and Prince George’s) and Baltimore City.

This program is designed to empower families and increase their knowledge, while learning more about their child’s development.   

Since May 2023, PPMD’s Early Childhood Family Partners Bonnie Kinsey, Missly Michel, and Jennifer Bertrand have been actively engaging with families, childcare providers, and community partners to provide valuable support and resources.

One of the core elements of the Early Childhood Family Partner program is to raise awareness about a child’s development using the CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early.” tools.  Through this initiative, families are empowered not only to recognize when action is needed but also to understand how and where to ask for help.

The Early Childhood Family Partner Program has several objectives, including connecting families with resources and organizations to help them apply for childcare scholarships. Additionally, the program aims to assist families in learning and navigating various systems, such as early intervention, education, childcare, and community-based services. 

PPMD is committed to empowering families as advocates and partners in improving education and health outcomes for children with disabilities and special healthcare needs with a commitment to diversity and equity. PPMD provides families with children (birth to 26) with a wide range of resources, information, referrals, and training.

Families and individuals can access these resources on PPMD's website at http://www.ppmd.org, where they can also utilize the online help request form (https://www.ppmd.org/contact/) to speak with an experienced Parent Educator. Organizations interested in trainings on various topics can also request them through the website (https://www.tfaforms.com/4909184). 

For more information about the Early Childhood Family Partner program, or to request assistance, please reach out to Bonnie Kinsey (Dorchester County) at bonniek@ppmd.org, Missly Michel at missly@ppmd.org (Wicomico County), or Jennifer Bertrand (Somerset County) at jennifer@ppmd.org.  Kristen Paul, PPMD's Director of Early Childhood Programs and the ECFP program lead, can be reached at kristen@ppmd.org. You can also contact PPMD directly at 410-768-9100. 

To Connect with PPMD  on social media visit  English Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePPMD/ 

Spanish Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePPMDEspanol 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeSdMBxi74NiP_we-1ss8Nw