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​Web Resources for Parents

You can apply for and renew your benefits from the comfort of your home using COMPASS, the online resource for cash assistance, Food Stamps, help with child care, health care coverage, home heating assistance (LIHEAP), school meals, SelectPlan for Women and long-term living services.

  • Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania — Created by families for families of children and adults with special needs, Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania connects families in similar situations with one another so that they may share experiences, offer practical information and/or advice.

  • Special Kids Network — The toll-free Special Kids Network helpline (1-800-986-4550) is a quick and easy way to find the many resources in your community that may help meet your child's special health care needs.

  • Early Intervention Technical Assistance — Early Intervention Technical Assistance includes State Interagency Coordinating Council/Local Interagency Coordinating Council information and the EI Newsletter, which discusses the important issues and best practices in providing early intervention services to young children and their families.

  • Special Education Consult Line — The Consult Line offers help for families and advocates of children with special needs about special education regulations and the complaint system.

  • Children's Health Insurance Program — CHIP is Pennsylvania's program to provide quality health insurance for children of working families who otherwise could not afford it.

  • Nurse-Family Partnership — The Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) is a nurse home visiting program that helps eligible first-time parents experience healthy pregnancies, learn how to take good care of their babies, and make plans for the future. Home visits by registered nurses promote the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development of the children and provide general support as well as instructive parenting skills to the parents. Services are provided to the families prenatally until the child reaches two years of age.

  • Head Start — Head Start is a national program administered by the Office of Head Start within the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Head Start programs provide comprehensive developmental services for low-income children from birth to entry into elementary school.

  • Family Literacy — Family Literacy Programs address the literacy needs of the family while promoting parents' involvement in their children's education as their children's first and most powerful influence on their academic success. Education opportunities for families are improved by integrating early childhood and adult education into a unified program. 

Publications for Parents

The following brochures contain valuable information for parents who want to learn more about early education and care. Forms listed are for parents who need documents for various Office of Child Development and Early Learning programs. All documents are PDF downloads and can be viewed and printed as needed.

Informational Brochures

  • A Parent's Guide to Choosing Quality Child Care | Español
  • ELRC Family Brochure
  • Keystone STARS Brochure
  • Keystone STARS Brochure (Spanish)
  • Pub 553 - A Parent Guide: Steps to Selecting a Child Care Program and a Quality Checklist
  • Pub 553 (Spanish) - Guía para padres de familia: Pasos para seleccion a run programa de cuidado infantil
  • Pub 555 - Reasons to Choose Quality Child Care and Information on Basic Child Care
  • Pub 555 (Spanish) - Razones por las que debe elegir un programa de cuidado infantil de buena calidad e información sobre el desa
  • Pub 556 - Types of Child Care and Defining Quality Child Care
  • Pub 556 (Spanish) - Tipos de cuidado infantil y definición de cuidado infantil de buena calidad
  • Pub 562 - Online Services for the Child Care Works Program
  • Pub 562 (Spanish) - Servicios en linea para el Programm Child Care Works
  • Welfare Fraud Brochure 

Forms

  • Application for Subsidized Child Care
  • Solicitud de cuidado infantil subsidiado
  • Education Schedule Verification
  • Employment Verification Form
  • Medical Assessment Form
  • Class/Training Schedule Verification

NOTE: We are currently in the process of updating these forms.  They will be linked as soon as they become available.