Family Resources
Support for Every Stage
At Everlight Children’s Academy, we believe supporting children also means supporting the families who care for them. We’ve gathered trusted resources, programs, and community services to help families find helpful information, opportunities, and support throughout the early childhood years.
Child Development & Milestones
Every child develops at their own pace, but understanding developmental milestones can help families recognize new skills, celebrate growth, and better understand their child’s development. The resources below provide trusted information about development during the early years, including communication, movement, learning, and social-emotional development.
CDC Developmental
Milestones
The CDC provides age-based milestone information to help families learn about the ways children grow, learn, communicate, move, and interact with others from birth through age 5.
Milestone information available from 2 months - 5 years
Ages & Stages
Questionnaire (ASQ)
ASQ developmental screenings give families a simple way to check in on their child’s development and better understand their progress in areas such as communication, movement, problem-solving, and social-emotional skills.
​Developmental screening tools for children ages 1 month to 5½ years.
Help Me Grow
Shasta
Help Me Grow Shasta connects families with information, developmental screenings, and local resources to support their child’s growth and development.
Free developmental support for Shasta County families with children ages 0–8.
First 5
Shasta
First 5 Shasta connects local parents and caregivers with information, programs, and community resources that support healthy development and learning during the first five years.
Local resources and support for Shasta County families with children ages 0–5.
Early Intervention & Family Support
When families have questions about their child’s development or feel additional support may be helpful, knowing where to turn can make the process feel a little easier. The resources below connect families with developmental evaluations, early intervention services, family guidance, and specialized support to help children receive the services they may need to learn, grow, and thrive.
Far Northern
Regional Center
Far Northern Regional Center’s Early Start program helps families of infants and toddlers who may have a developmental delay or disability access evaluations, early intervention services, and ongoing support.
Early intervention services for eligible children from birth to age 3.
Rowell Family Empowerment
Rowell Family Empowerment supports families of children with disabilities by helping them understand and navigate services, special education, early intervention, and other community resources.
Family support, guidance, and resources for Northern California families of children with disabilities.
Shasta County
Child Find (SElpa)
Child Find helps identify and evaluate young children who may need additional developmental or special education support and connects families with appropriate services through their local education system.
Developmental evaluation and special education support for children in Shasta County.
UC Davis
MIND Instutute
The UC Davis MIND Institute provides specialized evaluation, research, resources, and support for children and families affected by autism, developmental delays, and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
Specialized developmental resources and services for children and families.
Learning, Literacy & Activites
Learning happens everywhere, and simple experiences at home can help encourage curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning. The resources below connect families with books, early literacy programs, educational activities, and other opportunities to make learning fun and accessible during the early years.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library provides free, age-appropriate books mailed directly to enrolled children each month, helping families build home libraries and encourage a love of reading from an early age.
Free monthly books for eligible children from birth to age 5.
Shasta Public Libraries
Shasta Public Libraries offer free books, storytimes, early learning activities, and family programs that encourage reading, creativity, and learning throughout childhood.
Free library resources, activities, and children’s programs for Shasta County families.
First 5 Shasta
activities & Resources
First 5 Shasta connects families with local opportunities to learn, play, and explore together, including Little Free Libraries, family-friendly events, playground resources, and activities for young children.
Local learning, play, and community opportunities for families with children ages 0–5.
PBS kids
for parents
PBS KIDS offers families free activities, games, crafts, and learning ideas designed to make it easy to encourage learning through everyday play and experiences at home.
Free learning activities and ideas for young children and their families.
Health & Safety
Keeping children healthy and safe is an important part of supporting their growth and development. The resources below provide families with trusted information about children’s health, illness, immunizations, injury prevention, and everyday safety during the early years.
Shasta County
Public Health
Shasta County Public Health provides local health services, information, and resources for children and families, including immunizations, health education, and programs that support healthy growth and well-being.
Local health information, services, and support for Shasta County families.
CDC Child
Safety & Health
The CDC provides trusted information to help families protect their children’s health and safety, including guidance on common illnesses, vaccines, injury prevention, and healthy childhood development.
Trusted health and safety guidance for children and families.
Safe Kids
Wolrdwide
Safe Kids Worldwide provides practical safety information to help families prevent common childhood injuries, including falls, burns, poisoning, choking, drowning, and car-related injuries.
Child injury prevention and everyday safety resources for families.
California Poison
control System
California Poison Control provides free, expert guidance for families when a child may have been exposed to medications, household products, chemicals, plants, or other potentially harmful substances. Help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Free, confidential poison help available 24/7 throughout California.
Parent & Family Wellness
Caring for a family can come with both rewarding and challenging moments, and parents and caregivers deserve support too. The resources below connect families with mental health support, parenting guidance, community services, and other tools that can help support the well-being of the whole family.
Grow
Therapy
Grow Therapy helps individuals find licensed therapists for online mental health care, with options to search for providers based on insurance, availability, and individual needs.
Online therapy with providers accepting a variety of insurance plans, including some Partnership HealthPlan/Medi-Cal plans.
Triple P - Positive Parenting Program
Triple P provides practical parenting support and strategies to help families navigate everyday challenges, strengthen relationships, encourage positive behavior, and feel more confident in their parenting.
Free parenting support and resources for families in Shasta County.
First 5 Shasta
Postpartum Support
First 5 California connects expecting and new parents with resources for pregnancy, postpartum wellness, breastfeeding support, maternal health, and emotional well-being.
Health and wellness resources for expecting and postpartum parents.
Mental Health & Crisis Support
Shasta County provides mental health services and support for individuals and families experiencing emotional distress, mental health concerns, or a behavioral health crisis.
Local mental health support and crisis services available to Shasta County residents.
Food & Nutrition Support
Access to nutritious food is an important part of supporting the health and well-being of the whole family. The resources below connect families with food assistance, nutrition programs, local food resources, and other support to help make sure families have access to the food they need.
Shasta County
WIC
Shasta County WIC provides nutrition support for pregnant and postpartum parents, infants, and young children through healthy food benefits, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and connections to additional family resources.
Shasta County
CAL fresh
CalFresh helps eligible individuals and families purchase nutritious groceries by providing monthly food benefits through an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card.
Dignity Health
Local food bank
The Connected Living Food Bank helps Shasta County residents access nutritious food through local food distributions and community programs for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.
211 Norcal
food Assistance
211 NorCal connects Shasta County families with local food resources, including food pantries, free meals, CalFresh assistance, infant food and formula resources, and other community programs.
Nutrition and food support for eligible pregnant and postpartum parents and children under age 5.
Monthly grocery assistance for eligible California individuals and families.
Local food assistance and distribution services for Shasta County residents.
Free connections to local food and essential-needs resources throughout Shasta County.
Housing & essential needs
Having a safe and stable place to live is an important part of supporting the well-being of the whole family. The resources below connect families with housing assistance, rental and utility support, emergency housing, and other essential services that can help families find or maintain a safe and stable home.
County Housing & Community Action
​Shasta County Housing & Community Action Programs connects eligible individuals and families with housing and financial assistance, including rental support, help with utility costs, housing programs, and other services designed to help families maintain stable housing.
Local housing, rental, and utility assistance for eligible Shasta County residents.
HUD - Housing & rental assistance
​The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides information and resources to help individuals and families find affordable housing, understand rental assistance programs, and connect with housing counseling and other housing related support.
Affordable housing and rental assistance resources for individuals and families.
211
norcal
211 NorCal connects Shasta County families with local services for housing and everyday needs, including rental and utility assistance, emergency shelter, clothing, transportation, and other community support programs.
Free connections to local housing and essential-needs resources throughout Shasta County.
one safe
place
One SAFE Place provides confidential support and services for individuals and families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of abuse, including emergency shelter, safety planning, advocacy, and connections to additional resources.