Parent Resources

Photo of parent playing with baby on the floor.

Parent and Child Together Class (PACT): for Infants and Toddlers Under 36 Months 

A free 11-week course for families with infants and toddlers. Learn and play together, develop social emotional skills, and share the love of reading. Class participants receive a free parenting toolkit with educational books and early childhood developmental screenings.

Advance registration is required and on a first come, first served basis. Registration is only complete after interested participants have been contacted and receive confirmation from library staff.

Winter PACT class January-March 2024 - Sorry, CLASSES & WAITLISTS are FULL!

Ventura County Library is offering this class in partnership with First 5 Ventura County. It is supported in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library

For additional information contact Molly Krill, Ventura County Library Youth Services Manager at 805-218-3592 or molly.krill@ventura.org.

Ventura County Resources for Early Childhood Health, Education, and Care

First 5 Ventura County   Information and referrals for child health and development, parent/family support services, and quality early learning opportunities. First 5 Ventura County works in partnership with parents, school districts, community leaders, and social and healthcare agencies to create a network of essential services for young children and their families. 

Help Me Grow Ventura County - Developmental Screening   Help Me Grow Ventura County (HMGVC) provides families and providers with information and resources to help address behavioral and developmental concerns in children from birth to age five.

Childcare Resources for Parents   Provided by Ventura County's Local Planning Council, the united voice for early care and education in Ventura County. The Council is comprised of 25 members appointed by the County Superintendent of Schools and the Board of Supervisors.

Food Share Ventura County   Distributes millions of pounds of healthy food every year through pop-up pantries, drive-thru food box distributions, Senior Kits (CSFP), Kids’ Farmers’ Market, and community food pantry sites. The Find Food Now searchable map tool finds sources of free food available in any area of Ventura County.

Partnership for Safe Families and Communities in Ventura County  This nonprofit and serves as the Child Abuse and Violence Prevention Council for Ventura County.  The council partners with child advocacy centers and families in Ventura County to provide resources to families in need, protect children from abuse and neglect, and ensure healthy families are a community priority.

County of Ventura Human Services Agency - Child Welfare   Parent tip sheets and general information on Children and Family Services.
 

Child Development Information

All About Young Children   Find out what skills help children learn, how they learn language, how they learn about feelings and relationships, how they learn about numbers, and how they become skillful at moving their bodies. Presented by the CA Department of Education - State Advisory Council on Early Learning and Care.

Learn the Signs - Act Early!  From birth to 5 years, your child should reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act and move. This CDC resource offers the Developmental Milestones guide, a Milestone Photo and Video Library, and a Milestone Tracker App that helps you keep track of your child’s development and how to act early if you have a concern.

Zero to Three - Parent Favorites   A collection of this early child development non-profit's highest trending resources for parents. Includes topics such as Positive Parenting Approaches, Temperament, Challenging Behaviors, Sleep, Play, Discipline, and more.