First Step Programs & Services:
• Drop-In Centers – Located in Port Angeles. Drop-In offers free clothing and equipment closet, information and referrals, a children’s play area, emergency diapers and formula, access to phones, computers, fax and copier, healthy snacks, and free children’s books, and play and learn groups.
• Infant Case Management – Monthly home visiting program for at-risk, low
-income parents with children two months to one year of age. Provides advocacy, linkages, information, and referrals.
• Maternity Support Services - Community Health Nurse, Registered Dietician, Social Worker, and Community Health Worker actively support low-income women to encourage a healthy pregnancy and healthy birth outcomes. Services are provided from beginning of pregnancy through child's first two months. Lactation support provided by our partners at OMC.
• Parent-Child Assistance Program - Home visiting program for mothers who abuse alcohol and/or drugs during pregnancy. We provide intensive case management services to help stabilize families and prevent future babies being born compromised due to substance abuse.
• Parents As Teachers Home Visiting Program - Home visiting program promoting healthy child development, problem solving skills, and healthy parent support networks for families with children zero to three years of age.
• Supported Parenting Program – Provides intensive advocacy program to help parents with cognitive limitations raise their children.
• Parenting Classes – "Incredible Years", “Make Parenting a Pleasure” and “Love & Logic” are two classes offered. Most classes provide childcare on site, food, and transportation.
• Kaleidoscope Play & Learn Groups – Parents and children play in a variety of activities designed to promote positive parent and child interaction. The groups help demonstrate to parents that they are their child’s first teacher, even during playtime. Groups meet in Port Angeles, Sequim, Port Hadlock and Brinnon, WA. First Books - provides free books to children so they can build their own library
Safety Programs - offering free car seat education and equipment, safe infant sleep education and free cribs and other safety equipment. Reach Out Project - providing outreach and support to families impacted by COVID-19. Mothering Together - a support group for mothers that are struggling with perinatal mood and anxiety. New Mom's group - a group for new mothers, facilitated in Spanish and meeting in Forks. Summer Adventure Camp - a program helping children prepare to enter kindergarten. Promoting First Relationships - a parent child interaction series for parents, toddlers and preschoolers. Most services provided in English & Spanish - translation services available
