Who is eligible for Hands Connected childcare?

Families residing in Kent County with young children are screened based on age and service needs. Program staff conducting the intake process identify family goals and assess immediate and longer‑term needs related to childcare, early learning, child development, maternal health, and family supports.

How does Hands Connected contribute to school readiness?

With funding from the Ready by Five early childhood initiative, Hands Connected connects families to childcare, early learning opportunities, developmental screening and referral pathways, health and behavioral health supports, and other community resources that promote healthy development and school readiness.

What additional support is available for parents?

Bethany hosts in‑person parent engagement events where Hands Connected families can learn about available services and build relationships with program staff and other families. We also host an annual community baby shower and early childhood resource fair, which brings together culturally diverse families, service providers, and community partners.

Who are the Hands Connected childcare providers?

Bethany's Hands Connected Provider Network trains and supports qualified individuals from within diverse cultural and language communities to start, license, and sustain home‑based childcare businesses. Our goal is to expand the availability of culturally responsive, community‑based childcare options for refugee and immigrant families in Kent County.

How does Hands Connected train and support childcare providers?

We provide group and individualized training to help providers understand requirements, prepare their homes, complete required documentation, and build confidence as they move toward licensure. Ongoing support includes quality improvement, business practices, licensing compliance, and access to additional training and resources so they can grow and sustain their childcare business.

Ready by Five

Locations
Back

Locations
CAREERS
Blogs
Back

Blogs
Events
Contact

Donate

Expanding access to early childhood support

Hands Connected connects families with culturally responsive child care, early learning resources, and community support—helping more Kent County children build a strong foundation for school and life.

Early childhood support matters for every family

Michigan’s Kent County is home to more than 51,000 children under age 6, a foundational period for early childhood learning and development. Nearly 17% of households speak a language other than English at home, reflecting a wide range of African, Middle Eastern, and Asian languages in addition to Spanish.

Accessible childcare is a priority for working families. While there are some local, early childhood resources for Spanish‑speakers, families speaking other languages have far fewer options. That’s why Hands Connected seeks to fill this gap, so more children have access to early childhood services that improve school readiness outcomes.

: Families residing in Kent County with young children are screened based on age and service needs. Program staff conducting the intake process identify family goals and assess immediate and longer‑term needs related to childcare, early learning, child development, maternal health, and family supports.

: With funding from the Ready by Five early childhood initiative, Hands Connected connects families to childcare, early learning opportunities, developmental screening and referral pathways, health and behavioral health supports, and other community resources that promote healthy development and school readiness.

: Bethany hosts in‑person parent engagement events where Hands Connected families can learn about available services and build relationships with program staff and other families. We also host an annual community baby shower and early childhood resource fair, which brings together culturally diverse families, service providers, and community partners.

: Bethany's Hands Connected Provider Network trains and supports qualified individuals from within diverse cultural and language communities to start, license, and sustain home‑based childcare businesses. Our goal is to expand the availability of culturally responsive, community‑based childcare options for refugee and immigrant families in Kent County.

: We provide group and individualized training to help providers understand requirements, prepare their homes, complete required documentation, and build confidence as they move toward licensure. Ongoing support includes quality improvement, business practices, licensing compliance, and access to additional training and resources so they can grow and sustain their childcare business.