Parent & Child Health
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services, parent and child health services strive to deliver high quality, trauma informed resources to underserved and communities at risk, improving the health of the public and mitigate health disparities.
Parent Support Services
Free Parent Support Line: Call or text 1-888-404-7763. Perinatal Support Washington's Warm Line offers warm, understanding, and private support through their parent volunteers and trained staff. Answered live 9 am-4:30 pm, Monday-Friday.
PS-WA Spanish Warm Line: Linea Gratuita De Apoyo Para Padres: Llama o textea al 1-888-404-7763 Ofrece comprensin y apoyo confidencial.
Upcoming Events
Drop-in Lactation Support Group - 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month
Parenting and Postpartum Support Group - 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month
Bereavement Support Group - Empowering families affected by fetal, infant, or child loss
Ages & Stages
Educational:
Stages of Pregnancy: Pregnancy is grouped into three trimesters. Find out what’s happening with you and your baby in these stages
Pregnancy Basics: Learn how your baby grows during pregnancy
Healthy Pregnancy Tips: Take the steps to have a healthy pregnancy
Labor Induction: How is labor induced and is it right for me?
Vaccines During Pregnancy: Certain vaccines are safe and recommended for women before, during, and after pregnancy to help keep you and your baby healthy
Dental Health: Dental health is an important part of your prenatal care
Postpartum Depression: PPD happens during pregnancy or in the first year after giving birth. PPD is the most common complication for women who have just had a baby. It affects up to 1 in 7 women
Resources & Support:
Childbirth Classes
- Childbirth Classes of Olympia
- Birth Doula Childbirth & Placenta Services
- Multicare Childbirth Classes
- Womb Revolution Olympia
- Providence St. Peter Hospital Family Birth Center
- Having a Baby: Prenatal Videos (University of Minnesota)
Nurse-Family Partnership: The Nurse-Family Partnership is a free program for pregnant individuals in Thurston, Lewis, and Mason
Thurston County Parenting & Postpartum Support Group: Join other parents navigating the highs and lows of pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting infants
Lactation & Infant Feeding in Thurston County: Breast/Chest-feeding is one of the best ways to protect the health of both you and your baby
Perinatal Support Line of Washington: You don't have to figure this out on your own. The Warm Line was started by parents who never wanted another parent to feel alone and not know what to do
Milestones:
- Your Baby at 2 Months: Check the milestones your baby has reached by 2 months
- Your Baby at 4 Months: Check the milestones your baby has reached by 4 months
- Your Baby at 6 Months: Check the milestones your baby has reached by 6 months
- Your Baby at 9 Months: Check the milestones your baby has reached by 9 months
Educational:
Screen Time Recommendations: Babies younger than 18 months should not get any screen time
Well-Being:
Vaccination Recommendations: Vaccine guidelines from birth to 15 Months
Baby-Led Weaning: Learn how to give your baby a safe start to solid foods using baby-led weaning
Introducing Solids: Babies can be introduced to foods other than breast milk or infant formula when they are about 6 months old
Honey? Not so fast: In babies under 12 months, honey may cause a serious illness
Thurston County Parenting & Postpartum Support Group: Join other parents navigating the highs and lows of pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting infants
Lactation & Infant Feeding in Thurston County: Breast/Chest-feeding is one of the best ways to protect the health of both you and your baby
Perinatal Support Line of Washington: You don't have to figure this out on your own. The Warm Line was started by parents who never wanted another parent to feel alone and not know what to do
Milestones:
- Your Toddler at 1 Year: Check the milestones your toddler has reached by 1 year
- Your Toddler at 15 Months: Check the milestones your toddler has reached by 15 months
- Your Toddler at 18 Months: Check the milestones your toddler has reached by 18 months
- Your Toddler at 2 Years: Check the milestones your toddler has reached by 2 years
- Your Toddler at 30 Months: Check the milestones your toddler has reached by 30 months
Educational:
PBS Kids: Help your child learn & grow with tips & activities
Sesame Street: Learn along with Big Bird, Bert & Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, and Grover
Well-Being:
Healthy Toddlers: 10 steps for healthy toddlers
Family Media Plan: Create a Family Media Plan to help set priorities that matter most to your family
Lactation & Infant Feeding in Thurston County: Breast/Chest-feeding is one of the best ways to protect the health of both you and your baby
Perinatal Support Line of Washington: You don't have to figure this out on your own. The Warm Line was started by parents who never wanted another parent to feel alone and not know what to do
Milestones:
- Your Child at 3 Years: Check the milestones your child has reached by age 3
- Your Child at 4 Years: Check the milestones your child has reached by age 4
- Your Child at 5 Years: Check the milestones your child has reached by age 5
Educational:
- Sound to Harbor Early Learning Program
- Preschool by the Bay
- West Olympia Head Start
- ECEAP Program
- Online Learning Library: Digital & printable educational resources
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: Receive a free children's book each month
- Toys and Play: Find tips on how to pick toys and play activities based on their age or stage of development
Well-Being:
Setting Boundaries: 16 tips on how to set limits
Gentle Parenting: Is it right for you & your family?
Milestones:
- Your Child from 6-12 Years: Check the milestones your child should reach from 6-12 years
- Autism Screening: Take the M-CHAT-R questionnaire that will ask a series of 20 questions about your child’s behavior
Education:
- Understood: 14 ways to encourage your grade-schooler to read
- Healthy Children: Early signs of ADHD in children
- Verywell Mind: ADHD symptoms in girls can look very different than they do in boys
- Reading Rockets: Common signs of dyslexia in children
- North Thurston Public Schools: Enroll your child into preschool or kindergarten
- Olympia School District: Enroll your child into kindergarten
- Olympia Waldorf School: Alternative early childhood, elementary, and middle school
Childcare:
- Child Care Check: Find a licensed childcare facility
- Working Connections Child Care: WCCC helps eligible families pay for childcare
After-School/Summer Break Resources:
- Free Summer Meals Program: Open to all families for children 18 and younger
- Club House Program: Club House is a before- and after-school program running at several NTPS schools and managed by Thurston Together!
- Bricks 4 Kidz: Devoted to providing an extraordinary atmosphere for children, where we learn, we build, and we play with LEGO® Bricks
- Big Brothers Big Sisters: Enroll your child to have a mentor with a Big Brother or Big Sister
- Timberland Regional Library: Find lock events for your children and family
- City of Olympia: Parks, Arts, & Recreation
- City of Lacey: Parks, Arts, & Recreation
- Children’s Garden Program: Free gardening program for children 4-12 years old
Parent Support:
- Start Early: Resources on parenting tips & activities to do with your child
- Child Mind Institute: How to stay close as kids move into adolescence
- Positive Parenting Program: A tool kit to help positively influence your child’s skills & development
Mental Health:
- Brightline: 9 tips for talking to your child about mental health
- Seattle Children’s: What to watch for and how to help your child with their mental health
- Cleveland Clinic: How social media can negatively affect your child
- Olympia Therapy: Find a therapist for your child
- Molina Healthcare: Find a therapist or outpatient mental health treatment service for your child
Sex, Gender Identity & Puberty:
- Mayo Clinic: Precocious puberty is when children's bodies begin to change into adult bodies too soon
- UCLA Health: How to talk to young men about puberty
- UCLA Health: How to talk to young women about puberty
- NSVRC: How to talk about consent to your child
- The Talk Institute: 5 tips for talking to your child about masturbation
- NPR: The birds and the bees-how to talk to your children about sex
- Planned Parenthood: How to talk to your child about sex & sexuality
- Period 101: First-period guide for young women
- U by Kotex: Browse articles, tips, and expert advice about your period
- Amaze: Fun, animated videos that empower healthy relationships, with answers to help your child know about their body, puberty, healthy relationships, personal safety, gender identity, and sexual orientation
Resources coming soon
Together! Is on a mission to advance the health and well-being of all young people through community schools. They offer different support and opportunity services to children, youth, and families
2-1-1 Washington: Community resources at no cost
HelpMeGrow Washington: Find local resources for things such as clothing banks, employment, housing, and financial support
Food Resources: Apply for SNAP or WIC benefits, find local food banks, sign up for summer meals for your children
Health Resources: Enroll in free or low-cost health insurance, find dental clinics, and access to family planning services
Pregnancy and Childbirth Resources: Breastfeeding and childbirth support as well as access to diapers and supplies
Parent and Caregiver Resources: Childcare locations, foster care services, parenting classes, support groups, one-on-one parent & caregiver support
Contact our Maternal Child Health Program at (360) 867-2500 or email PHSS_MCH@co.thurston.wa.us if you have additional questions.