The Health Department is closed Monday, Sept. 7, for the Labor Day holiday.

    • Family and Professional Resources

    Family resources

    Food

    • Need help with Basic Food? Get application help or information at every Pierce County Family Resource Center: English  Spanish.
    • Are you a Tacoma Community College student? Get FREE food Tuesdays, 4:30-6:30 p.m. and Thursdays, 2-4 p.m. Learn more and schedule your appointment.
    • Need help with food? Pacific Islander Community Association of  Washington provides food boxes for families in need in Pierce, Snohomish and South King counties.
    • Food Bank—Nourish Pierce County.
    • Coordinated Care has partnered with WithinReach to help families across Washington Get Access to Food. Families can connect with resources and food benefits with a simple text message. Learn more (English and Spanish).
    • American Heart Association’s food resources—Access to nutritious food.
    • Everyone should get the groceries they need, regardless of their income, where they live, or their background. Imperfect Foods wants to help. If you’re a low-income earner, the Reduced Cost Box program may be right for you! Get 20% off the cost of every order. They’ll also provide free delivery.
    • Are you a child or adult care center? Join the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and get reimbursed for some costs associated with serving nutritious meals to children and qualified adults. Learn more.
    • Food tasting is back! Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) offers online nutrition classes for families and children. Learn more and register.
    • Washington State Department of Health and Safeway partnered to make SNAP/EBT shopping even better! Now, you can use SNAP benefits to buy groceries online at Safeway.com for pickup or home delivery! When you buy at least $10 of fresh fruits and vegetables—online or in your local grocery store—you get a coupon for your next trip! Use your SNAP Produce Match coupon to buy more fresh fruits and vegetables.
    • Need help with a meal? Contact Lasagna Love! They connect neighbors with neighbors through homemade meal delivery. Lasagna Love seeks to feed families, spread kindness and strengthen communities.

    Healthcare

    Childcare

    Transportation

    Housing

    Financial

    Learning programs

    • Whether you’re a parent, teacher or just interested, Montessori play, activities, and crafts support healthy toddler development. Learn about Montimama Montessori-inspired learning.
    • Enroll in Intercultural Children and Family Services’ FREE early learning program, designed for African American, medically fragile children with special needs in Seattle/South King County. Parents who enroll their children will receive a $50 gift card (for Target or Walmart). Learn more. If you’re interested, complete the parent interest form.
    • Move to Learn is an early math and family engagement program. Children ages 2-5 explore everyday activities to improve their math readiness skills. This program is adaptable for virtual or in-person learning. Participating organizations will receive the Move to Learn curriculum—a FREE kit of movement-based supplies and one-on-one support. Want to learn more? Contact Masa Kawamura.
    • Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) Early Head Start accepts referrals all year. Learn more and apply. If you want to refer expectant moms and families with children birth to 3, get their permission, then email their contact info to abeckvold@psesd.org. She will help them complete the application over the phone. Or you can fill out an application with them and email it to abeckvold@psesd.org or fax or text it to (253) 778.7820.
    • Early Head Start offers a free childcare program for families who qualify. Child Care Resources (CCR) care for children birth to 3 years of age and works with:
      • Families Experience homelessness.
      • Pregnant women of color.
      • Foster care families.
      • Children with a disability.
      • Low-income families.
      • Undocumented families.

    CCR provides connection and growth through quality childcare services throughout King and 14 locations throughout Pierce County. Share a flyer: English, Spanish, Somali, Vietnamese, Chinese

    Other

    • Goodwill announces Goodwill Connect, a statewide collaboration to promote their new Connect Hotline. Call 1-844-GWCONNECT (1-844-492-6663) to access free digital technology help. Learn more.
    • Eastside Baby Corner, West Sound—Basic necessities for children.
    • Pierce County Early Childhood Network supports a network of diaper banks. Once monthly, your family can pick up a free 3-day supply of diapers and a pack of wipes. Find a location near you.
    • Olive Crest helps families in crisis get back on their feet and keep their families intact. Learn about their services.
    • Social connections are a sense of belonging to others and to a neighborhood or community. We have a variety of resources that support and encourage building connections in our community. Customizable handouts available in English and Spanish. Questions? Contact Marcy Boulet at (253) 576-9582 or mboulet@tpchd.org.
    • Resources for fathers of color: Visit aboutdads.org or download the brochure.
    • Get a virtual car seat inspection through Mary Bridge. You only need access to a device connected to Wi-Fi with a microphone and webcam. If you can’t connect through a device, Mary Bridge Center for Childhood Safety can help by phone at (253) 403-1234.

    Pregnancy support

    Breastfeeding

    Mom/baby support groups

    Parenting

    • The Positive Parenting Program—or Triple P—gives you tips and ideas to bring out the best in your children. Triple P is free and open to families with children ages 0-17. Speak Spanish? No problem! Join a group with a Spanish-speaking practitioner. Each group is 8 weeks, 1-2 hours per week. Don’t let this opportunity pass you up—decide which Triple P Group is best for you and reserve your spot today! Get a Triple P Group flyer to help us promote this great opportunity!  English | Spanish. Questions? Contact us at fspartnership@tpchd.org or (253) 649-1012.
    • Kids say their parents are the most influential people in their lives. They don’t want to disappoint you! Give your kids clear guidance and rules that will keep them safe and healthy. Talk about the dangers of alcohol and drugs. Learn more about youth substance prevention.
    • Are you a family in King County experiencing—or at-risk of experiencing—Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs)? Perinatal Support Washington has a program for you! Perinatal Education & Resilience Collaborative (PERC) provides culturally matched care to families. Learn more.
    • Want parenting support? Parents as Teachers (PAT) of Tacoma is an evidence-based home visiting program. PAT promotes healthy children and early childhood development and learning. They will work with you to set family goals. Learn more about PAT.
    • Need breastfeeding support? Join a breastfeeding support group, Melanin and Milk. This group is for BIPOC mamas. They meet in-person on Tuesdays at the Union Club—539 Broadway, Tacoma, WA 98402:
      • 1 p.m.—Peer support.
      • 2 p.m.—Lactation Q&As.
    • Join Black Mamas Support group 7-8 p.m., the third Tuesday of each month at Parable. The group is inclusive for all nonbinary, gender nonconforming, trans and queer black mamas.
    • If you plan to file for legal immigration status in the U.S. someday, you and your family can still use many public assistance programs without fear. Learn about the Public Charge Rule (English) (Spanish).

    Family activities

    • Virtual Story Time at Tacoma Public Library—Enjoy songs and rhymes and connect with other families.
    • The Tacoma Public Library offers ideas, crafts, storytimes and book clubs for kids of all ages:
    • Several public and private recreation providers have collaborated to bring kids opportunities to learn, create, explore and compete this summer. Across Pierce County, the Kids Need to Play program offers many youth camps and programs at 60-90% off (discounted at the time of sale). Learn more.

    Give back

    • Support your Pierce County neighbors. Donate to Nourish Food Drive or consider hosting a virtual fundraiser. Learn more.
    • Each Friday, Start Early Washington shares engaging and informative policy and advocacy updates on this year’s legislative session. Get updates and sign-up for weekly emails here.
    • Mahogany Moms partnered with Public Health Seattle/King County to bring you Once Loss Too Many, a community action plan for African American maternal and infant health. Learn how you can get involved.
    • Pierce County Early Childhood Network is dedicated to improving the well-being of children and families in Pierce County. Action Teams are a space for partners to come together and dive deeper into specific topics. Most teams meet monthly. Together, team members actively work to improve, enhance, align, and ignite change for children and families. Everyone is welcome and invited! Join a meeting.
    • Leaders in Women’s Health fight health disparities in the African American community. They envision a world where all people have access to all aspects of health. Did you know Leaders in Women’s Health has a Facebook page? “Like” this local nonprofit organization and learn what they’re doing to support the community—and how you can support them.
    • Being the Village is a supportive environment that offers genuine community and social support to Black and Brown moms. Show your love! ❤ Check out their website and support this Tacoma-based community of mothers, children and families.
    • Help children overcome playing and learning barriers and address learning disabilities. Volunteer at University of Puget Sound’s School of Occupational Therapy. Interested? Contact ot@pugetsound.edu or (253) 879-3499.
    • The 21-Day Equity Challenge is a powerful opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of how inequity and racism affect our lives and our community.
      • Read articles and blog posts and get book suggestions.
      • Listen to podcasts and the Spotify “Soundtrack 4 Justice” playlist.
      • Watch videos.
      • Challenge your awareness.
      • Follow activists, educators, organizations and movements on social media.
      • Get tips to help guide you.
      • Act to challenge the status quo.
      • Reflect on what you learn and how you feel.
    • Black Parents Alliance advocates for policies that improve the intellectual, social and emotional success of Black scholars and families. Want to get involved? Sign-up to join Black Parents Alliance monthly meetings.

    Behavioral Health

    Employment

    Training opportunities

    Professional resources

    • CHI Franciscan is accepting applications for projects and events that address targeted community health priorities. Learn more and apply.
    • Learn about trauma, resilience, effective coping and the unique challenges young people and their parents experience. Tune in to Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith’s podcast, Children, Trauma, and Racism.
    • Upcoming webinars through National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ).
    • Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) believes parents are their children’s first and most important teachers. The DCYF Parent Advisory Group (PAG) is a sounding board for decisions, ideas and questions that shape the future of DCYF. Would you like to provide advice and guidance, share your experiences, and “parent-test” policies or programs that help shape the future of DCYF’s services? Apply to become a member of PAG!
    • It’s not too late to take advantage of the premium assistance program for licensed childcare workers (LCWs). If you’re an LCW, get health coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder. Learn more and track program developments and materials on the Child Chare Premium Assistance webpage. Get a program overview in English, Spanish or Somali.
    • The Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program (STAR LRP) provides behavioral health providers up to $250,000 to repay school loans in exchange for working full-time for 6 years at an approved site. Learn more about the program and how to apply.
    • Alcohol and Pregnancy: the more you know is a 3-part podcast. It features interviews with a variety of individuals to explore the many facets of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs). The hosts meet with a medical expert in the field of FASDs, a patient advocate, a mother whose child is affected by prenatal alcohol exposure, and a public health social worker specializing in counseling patients in unhealthy alcohol use. Learn more and listen to episodes.
    • The Take Ten podcast features 10 minutes of ideas and inspiration focused on provider self-care and well-being during COVID-19. Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC wrote and hosts the podcast. Listen to the most recent episodes.
    • Listen to Talking to Change, a Motivational Interviewing podcast. Explore Motivational Interviewing (MI) and its influence on supporting individuals and groups as they make positive health and lifestyle changes. Guests from across the world discuss the research, practice and learning of MI and its place across health, social care, education and criminal justice.