Prenatal care is perhaps the most critical service all expectant mothers, and black and brown mothers in particular, can access for themselves and their babies. Watch this video to learn how prenatal care can be a matter of life and death. Community Connections supported mentors who checked in on pregnant mothers to encourage them to seek prenatal care from doctors, doulas and midwives.
These tools were developed with love and understanding to provide tips and inspiration in support of a healthy and productive child development journey.
Community Connections created this toolkit for you based on our experience, learning from best practices, and learning from community groups. Community Connections has supported groups and leaders since 2006 through an equity-driven participatory grantmaking platform. Community Connections designed its platform to consider, among other things, the cultural and racial realities of Detroit residents. Among a host of other interest areas, the platform allows Community Connections to support the elevation of the well-being of Detroit children and their caregivers.
Check out these tools, which are sure to equip you with knowledge to support you as a caregiver and ambassador to improve conditions for children in Detroit.
Thank you to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for generously supporting the creation of the Child Development Toolkit.
Expectant Families and Newborns
Community Connections supports groups working toward equitable conditions for historically marginalized groups. Support before, during and after birth is essential for healthy development. Early and competent prenatal care, fathers and other caregivers make a difference.
Prenatal Care
Black and Brown Dad Magic
Mothers and Fathers are primary caregivers to children. Fathers experience hopes, apprehensions and make plans for the arrival of a new baby. They also contribute enormous time and effort caring for and loving their children. According to the Center for Disease Control, black and brown fathers actually spend more time than their white counterparts tending to their children.
Safe Sleep
Accidental suffocation or strangulation of babies occurs too frequently. Following these guidelines for safe sleep can reduce the risk of this and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Community Connections has supported many projects that promote safe sleep.
Infants and Toddlers
Sometimes it is so hard to figure out how to support a baby or toddler’s growth and development. Here are some helpful tips for playing with babies or toddlers while helping them grow mentally and physically strong.
6 A-Day
Follow these 6 easy actions you can do every day to help your baby develop. Download this graph and attach it to your fridge as a reminder that also gives helpful ways to include the 6-A-Day into your child’s life. Community Connections joins the Hope Starts Here partners in promoting these activities throughout the Detroit community.
Developmental Stages
Providing a variety of developmentally aligned activities that can activate young minds, emotions and healthy connections is essential for healthy child development and worth its weight in gold. We help groups design projects that match children’s developmental stages.
The Potty Chronicles
Successful potty training is sometimes a mystery for parents and caregivers. It is hard to know what to do to make it happen! Check out the highs, lows and mysteries of potty training. Community Connections supports a community group providing diapers and potty training to families in need as a matter of equity.
School Age Children
Infants and toddlers require an abundance of physical care. School age children, ages 6-12, have different needs during a time when they are rapidly changing physically, mentally and emotionally. Caregivers are vital to helping school age children navigate through this developmental stage.
Helping Children Manage Stress
Adults know how stress can weigh them down. Children experience stress similarly to adults. Parents and caregivers can help children handle stress better. Community Connections provided opportunities for families to document how they were mentally and emotionally affected and managed through the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Many Dimensions of Black Fatherhood
The Community Connections network is intentional with its outreach and inclusion of men of color. Community Connections has a rich variety of black, brown and middle eastern fathers exercising power across the board. Let us introduce you to Aaron, a multitalented man and father who is family to Community Connections and to many others in the community.