This page provides information on and links to various professional organizations and child advocacy groups. Included are website and/or contact information.

Advocacy

• Children's Defense Fund
  CDF provides a strong, effective and independent voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby or speak for themselves.
• Pre-K NOW
  Pre-K Now is a public education and advocacy organization that advances high-quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten for three and four year olds. Pre-K Now is a trusted resource for policy information and a strong partner for pre-k advocacy.
• Voices for America's Children (Voices)
  Voices is a nonpartisan, national organization committed to speaking out for the well-being of children at the federal, state and local levels of government.

Calendar - Events

• Koddler
  Search for local activities for kids and families by topic, age or location.
• Baltimore's Child
  Pre-K Now is a public education and advocacy organization that advances high-quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten for three and four year olds. Pre-K Now is a trusted resource for policy information and a strong partner for pre-k advocacy.
• Voices for America's Children (Voices)
  Link to a great selection of calendars, including family, parents, babies and special needs calendars.

General Resources

• Center for the Future of Children
  Access a wide variety of articles and information on current topics in child care services and parenting.
• Early HeadStart Research Program
  Get connected to useful information and training on "best practices" on a range of topics relating to the care of children from birth to age three.
• ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education
  Explore an extensive body of education related literature with a focus on child development, caring for young children and parenting.
• Maryland Committee for Children
  The MCC works with parents and child care providers to expand and enhance the early childhood education and child care available to Maryland's children.
• Maryland State Department of Education
  MSDE provides leadership, support, and accountability for effective systems of public education, library services, and rehabilitation services for all resources from the state department of education.
• Maryland State Childcare Association (MSCCA)
  MSCCA is the professional association for licensed child care and early learning centers operating in Maryland and for associated businesses and individuals that support the mission of the Association.
• Maryland State Family Childcare Association
  Access valuable provider resources including the MSDE provider helpline, mandatory child care forms and immunizations schedules.
• National Association of Child Care Resources & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA)
  NACCRRA is the nation's leading voice for child care. They work with more than 700 state and local child care resource and referral agencies nationwide.
• National Association for the Educatoni of Young Children (NAEYC)
  The NAEYC provides a wide selection of articles on critical issues, an accredited program search, information on the current trends in education and links to other valuable sites.
• National Childcare Information Center
  Sponsored by the Child Care Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, this site provides a central access point for child care related information.
• National HeadStart Association
  The Association provides support for the entire Head Start community by advocating for policies that strengthen services to Head Start children and their families. They provide extensive training and professional development to Head Start staff, and develop and disseminating research, information, and resources that enrich Head Start program delivery.
• National Home of the Ready to Learn Service
  The Ready To Learn initiative efforts incorporate the latest research about the most effective ways for kids to build reading skills, with a special emphasis on the needs of children from low income families.
• National Network for Child Care
  Link to articles and news, share your views, explore child care resources by State and find helpful ideas of things to do with children.
• The Character Education Partnership
  Find tips and information to help children develop strong moral and ethical values.
• The Whole Child
  Get the ABC’s of child care and helpful tips, resources and information for parents and caregivers of children from birth to age five.
• U.S. Bureau of the Census
  Find useful child care data, including information on child care costs and use of various child care arrangements.
• U. S Department of Education
  Access information and resources for everything that is happening in education across the country.

Health and Safety

• American Academy of Pediatrics
  The AAP provides information from the nations’ leading health experts. Find informative advice on children’s health.
• Child Welfare League of America
  This site provides information on how to help children who are neglected, abused or living in poverty.
• Consumer Product Safety Commission
  The CPSC is an excellent place to find recall information and advice on safety issues.
• National Center for Children in Poverty
  This site offers information on welfare reform and provides resources and support for those that live below the poverty line.
• National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect
  A national resource for professionals that are seeking information on child abuse and neglect and child welfare.

Infants and Toddlers

• Early HeadStart Research Program
  This site contains information and training of the "best practices" on a range of topics relating to the care of children from birth to three years old.
• Program for Infant Toddler Caregivers
  PITC offers valuable information relating specifically to infants and toddlers including brain development and language development. The site includes articles on controversial topics (the use of walkers, etc.) and slide show presentations.
• Zero to Three
  Zero to Three is the nation’s leading resource on the first three years of life.

Parent Resources

• Parents as Teachers
  Parents can turn to this site for information, support and encouragement to help their children develop optimally during the crucial early years of life.
• Maryland State Family Childcare Association
  MSFCCA advocates for family child care providers through education and collaboration with local associations for the quality care of all children.

Special Needs/Eduacation

• Internet Resources for Special Children
  Access a comprehensive collection of links to learn more about physical, neurological and cognitive disorders and other special needs.
• Circle of Inclusion
  Circle of Inclusion, for early childhood service providers and families of young children, offers demonstrations of and information about the effective practices of inclusive educational programs for children from birth through age eight.
• Council for Exceptional Children
  The Council for Exceptional Children is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents.
• Early Childhood Research Institute on Inclusion
  The Institute works to ensure that all children have a strong foundation for academic success and full participation as caring and responsible citizens of a multicultural world.
• Easter Seals
  Easter Seals provides exceptional services, education, outreach, and advocacy so that people living with autism and other disabilities can live, learn, work and play in our communities.
• Family Village
  The Family Village is a global community that integrates information, resources, and communication opportunities on the Internet for persons with cognitive and other disabilities, their families, and for those that provide them services and support.
• Federation for Children with Special Needs
  The Federation is a center for parents and parent organizations to work together on behalf of children with special needs and their families.
• Ideal Lives Project
  This site provides tips, tools, news and events and empowers parents to build ideal lives through advocacy.
• Inclusion... Yours, Mine, Ours
  Link to information about special education, inclusion and autism.
• Kids Together
  Kids Together, Inc. strives to remove barriers that exclude people with disabilities. The award-winning web site includes forums, assistive technology resources, tips for IEP’s and inclusion information, rights and more.
• Parents for Inclusion
  This site is for parents helping parents so that disabled children can learn, make friends and have a voice in ordinary school and throughout life.
• Resources for Special Children
  Link to valuable resources and information for children with special needs, disorders and disabilities.
• Special Child: For Parents of Children with Disabilities
  The Special Child site connects parents of children with disabilities to relevant resources, supports and web sites.
• The Disabled Children's Relief Fund
  The Disabled Children's Relief Fund provides disabled children with assistance to obtain wheelchairs, orthopedic braces, walkers, lifts, hearing aids, eyeglasses, medical equipment, physical therapy, and surgery.