General Information

Family Place Libraries

FAMILY SUPPORT  SERVICES

Do You or Your Child Need Health Insurance?

A representative from Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council provides information, and will enroll qualified children and adults in Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus and/or Medicaid.

Family Center

A certified social worker provides family support  through individual meetings and referrals to appropriate health and human services agencies. Free of charge, confidential, and open to families residing in the North Brookhaven area. Call 631.585.9393, ext. 290 to leave a confidential message.

Free Immunizations: Shots for Tots

A service provided by the Suffolk County Department  of Health. Please bring child’s immunization  record.

Kids in Care

For family childcare providers and the young children in their care. Receive early literacy home visits from a trained children’s librarian,  and borrow a kit of age appropriate books, music and toys.

Nursery School Fair

Meet representatives from local nursery schools, child care centers and family child care providers who will be available to answer your questions.

ParentChild+

For families and children ages 18 to 26 months.
A school readiness and family support program providing home visiting free of charge to eligible families with limited access to educational opportunities. Participating families receive free toys and books to keep in their home.

Something  Special

For children with special needs and their families.
Features activities appropriate for all abilities and opportunities for socialization.

Welcome New Baby

For expectant parents and children two to six years.
Helps prepare siblings for the arrival of a new baby through the use of stories, an art activity, puppets and life-size dolls.

Toys to Go

A circulating collection of recreational and educational toys for infants through age six, including adaptive toys and switches for young children with special needs.

LlBRARY  KITS

Hospital Kits

Feature a selection of reading materials and activities for parents and preschool/ school-age children to share during their hospital stay.

New Sibling Kits

Books, media, activities, a doll and role playing accessories to prepare your child for their new sibling.

Library Link Kits

Thematic early literacy kits for children  birth through  three years that contain books, puzzles, puppets,  and other toys on a variety of themes.

Project  Link Kits

Thematic early literacy kits for three to five year old children  that contain a selection of picture books, related literacy activities and educational toys.

Science Literacy  Preschool Kits

Age appropriate science materials for parents and educators to share  with the children in their careon a variety of topics.

MATERIALS  AND  RESOURCES FOR PARENTS

The Parents Collection

Covers every aspect of child rearing and parenting. Resources include books, DVDs, magazines and newsletters, online resources, and displays of current news and information for parents.

211 Long Island Database

A free, non-emergency information and referral database that connects users to detailed information on over 10,000 health and human service agencies. (http://www.211longisland.org)

PROGRAMS FOR PARENTS, CAREGIVERS AND CHILDREN AGES BIRTH  TO FIVE

Explore and Play Programs

Birth to five years.
Interactive programs (Early Childhood Workshop, Stay and Play, Toddlers Explore, Baby and Me)featuring art, movement and child-directed play activities.

Music and Movement  Programs

Birth to five years.
High-energy programs (Mommy and Me Yoga, Hip Hop Tots, Parachute Play) featuring instruments, props, music and movement.

Books, Songs & Rhymes

Birth to three years.
Fun-filled programs (Young and the Restless, Mother Goose, Pajama Storytime, Storytimes for Twos and Threes) offering stories, music, songs, rhymes and finger plays.

Parent-Child Workshop

One to three years.
Over the course of five weeks, spend time together, play, make friends, and talk one-on-one with specialists on child development.

Reading Club Programs

Birth through school age.
Summer and winter reading clubs foster the love of reading. Participating families receive special incentives.

PROGRAMS JUST FOR PARENTS

Baby Bump

Meet and chat with other expectant moms, talk with health care professionals about pregnancy and infant care, and make a special gift for your new baby.

Moms’ Group

Affiliated with Mom-mentum a national organization that holds mom-to-mom (family) support groups, this weekly group focuses on the needs of mothers, encourages discussion about parenting, and provides open play time for children.

Parenting  Workshops

Various programs are offered throughout the year focusing on normal, day-to-day challenges, as well as specific topics of interest to parents.

OUR FAMILY PLACE AREAS

The Hagedorn Family Place area in the Centereach building and the Rauch Family Place area in Selden are safe, fun environments where you and your young child can read, play and learn. These specially-designed spaces feature materials for children and parents including board books, picture books, toys, puzzles, blocks, and drawing stations, all creating opportunities for little ones to explore. As your child’s first and most important teacher, these activities will help you build your child’s early literacy skills.