Parenting

Parenting Skills
Reducing the Risk of SIDS – Back to Sleep Campaign
The Back to Sleep campaign provides a variety of publications on the importance of placing babies on their backs to sleep to help reduce the risk of SIDS.

I Am Your Child
Offers a wide range of information including: discipline, sleep, child care, nutrition, safety, working families and overall child wellness.

Positive Parenting
Provides information on parenting basics like discipline, talking to your child about various subjects, learning & education, and resources and support on developmental delays.

Parenting 24/7 (Stages of Development)
Provides information on a variety of parenting topics for all ages and stages including: loving & nurturing, discipline, mealtime, sleeping, toilet training, behavior issues and learning.

First Gov for Parents
This site offers a variety of resources for parents breakouts out the topics by age groups.  

Zero to Three
The site offers a continually growing list of topics, covering a verity of areas interesting to parents and a tip of the week about all areas of a young child’s development. 

Fatherhood
Me and My Dad
Focuses on strengthening the relationship between fathers and their kids. Some of the topics this site features include: developmental ages and stages, the joys and challenges of fatherhood, seasonal activities to do with your children and parenting tips.

National Fatherhood Initiative
Offers resources and information such as interactive tools, fatherhood tips, encouragement strategies, and ways to communicate with other fathers.

Father Involvement-Building Strong Programs for Strong Families
An online publication from the Head Start Bureau that shows how fathers make critical contribution to the "educational achievement and physical and emotional health" of their children.

National Fatherhood Initiative
Offers resources, education and information on fatherhood in an effort to better engage and equip fathers to be prepared for parenting.

Publications
Iowa State University Extension to Families
Provides information on topics such as child development, abuse and family relations, as well as newsletters to fit every parent’s needs and concerns.

Parenting
Parenting publications available from Iowa State University Extension on parenting. Topics include (but are not limited to): Living with Your Teenager, Human Lice, and a Child Care Checklist for Parents. Series publications are also available on infants, toddlers, preschoolers, understanding children, and parenting.

Father Initiative Resource Guide
A small booklet available online that provides an extensive resource list of articles, reports, books, videos and internet sites that address fatherhood issues.

Fathers and Father-Figures:  Their Important Role in Children's Social and Emotional Development
A four-page research brief summarizing information on the importance of fathers in supporting healthy emotional development.

Adoption and Foster Care
Foster Care - Department of Human Services
Provides information on foster care, foster parenting, special needs adoption, licensing and training.

Administration for Children & Families
Offers information on adoption & foster care, child abuse, children with disabilities, child support, child care, fatherhood and health.

Child Welfare Information Gateway
Offers information on different types of adoption, talking about adoption, legal guidelines, understanding the challenges and financial assistance.

Adopting a Child with Special Needs
Provides information on the definition of a special needs child, eligibility guidelines, cost & financial support for adoption and services available after adoption.

Grandparents
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Offers information on food safety, immunizations, child abuse, mental health, bullying, health care coverage, child care, grandchildren with disabilities and tips for grandparents.

Children with Special Health Care Needs
Early ACCESS
Early ACCESS (IDEA Part C), is a program that works with families of children age birth to 3 years who have a developmental delay or potential for delay. The program provides family centered care coordination; home based services such as speech, developmental, physical and occupational therapies, and empowers and supports families in making informed choices based on needs.

COMPASS
Iowa COMPASS is a free, statewide information and referral service for people with disabilities, their families, service providers and other members of the community.

Fun Things to Do
Crafts & Recipes
Provides creative ideas for activities to do with your children such as arts & crafts, indoor & outdoor games, recipes, parties, travel and printables.

Activity Search
Allows parents to search by program, activity type, and skill to find results for activities to do with their child such as coloring sheets, recipes, stories, projects and songs.

Project R.E.A.D
Provides a series of suggested books and activities for parents and children to do together to promote healthy eating and strong families.

Fun and Learning for Parents and Children:  An Activities Handbook
A handbook containing entertaining education activities for parents and children. The book also includes a list of questions to inspire parents to create additional activities.