Wayne County Partnership for Children Volunteer Opportunities

Get Involved!

Your involvement can make a big difference for the children and families of this community! Below are highlights of a few ways that you can make a difference. Feel free to contact us if you are interested making the lives of young children better in cooperation with Wayne County Partnership for Children, Inc.

CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY

Partnership for Children of Wayne County, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service. A large percentage of the funding received by the Partnership comes from Smart Start state funds. However, the local Partnership is presently receiving less than forty percent of its full funding and relies heavily on the support of foundation grants and local gifts. All in-kind goods and services are always in need.

To pledge an amount to donate, please contact the Wayne County Partnership for Children, Inc. by phone, fax, or email (contact information below).

VOLUNTEER

	Share a hobby, craft, or personal collection with children.
	Read stories to children.
	Provide clerical assistance to early childhood organizations.
	Teach children how to use a computer.
	Teach adults who work with young children how to use a computer.
	Be a substitute teacher for a young children's program so a teacher can attend professional growth classes.
	Help improve facilities which provide programs and services for young children and families.
	Serve on committees or boards affecting early childhood programs and services.
	Become a Guardian Ad Litem -- a court-appointed volunteer for an abused/neglected child-- to help ensure that the best is done for a child involved in a court case.
	Tutor parents of young children in adult literacy.
	Assist in a summer program for young children.
	Staff registration tables at children's fairs or events.
	Provide translation to Spanish-speaking parents and children.
	Serve as a guest speaker about early childhood development.
	Provide, prepare, and distribute snacks at children's events and fairs.
	Provide free child care during committee meetings, community forums, and other events.
	Become a Big Brother or Big Sister to a young child.
	Visit and hold an abandoned baby at a local hospital.
	Volunteer at a Women's Shelter for mothers with young children.
	Consider becoming a foster parent.
	Consider adopting a young child.
	Mentor young families.

MAKE AND ASSEMBLE

	Activity kits.
	Show and tell bags.
	Dramatic play costumes.
	Big pillows.
	Wooden swing sets.
	Bean bag chairs.

DONATE MATERIALS

	Children's books.
	Children's toys and games.
	Children's magazine subscriptions.
	Infant and toddler equipment and toys.
	Educational programs for young children.
	Professional magazine subscriptions covering child-related topics.
	Provide long-term financial support for early childhood development efforts.

ADVOCATE

	Write a letter-to-the-editor about young children's issues in your community.
	Contact local media and ask them to explore programs supporting early childhood development.
	Find out where elected officials stand on early childhood services and programs.
	Educate elected officials about the importance of early childhood development.
	Ask elected officials to support programs that provide programs and services for young children and their families.

As an organization/business, you can...

VOLUNTEER

	Repair or renovate children's playgrounds.
	Renovate facilities for young children and their families.
	Mentor young children.
	Read stories to young children.
	Adopt a local early childhood program, and offer volunteers, the use of facilities, financial support and other resources.
	Share expertise with early childhood development and family support programs.
	Serve on committees or boards affecting early childhood programs and services.

CREATE/DONATE

	Build early care, education and family center facilities.
	Create areas for mothers to nurse their infants.
	Donate items that support early childhood development.
	Sponsor space for parenting, family support, health care, and early care and education programs.
	Donate space for parenting, family support, health care, and early care and education programs.
	Provide in-kind support, such as copying, faxing, mailing or printing, for organizations providing programs and services for young children.
	Provide meeting space to community groups improving programs and services for families with young children.
	Make facilities safe and inviting for young children and their parents.
	Provide child care to parents.

ADVOCATE/EDUCATE

	Participate in partnerships with community sectors to improve programs and services for young children and their families.
	Initiate partnerships with community sectors to improve programs and services for young children and their families.
	Host or sponsor community forums on early childhood topics, such as brain development, parenting programs, quality child care, or access to health care.
	Publish articles about the importance of the early years.
	Work with media to publicize local programs that offer parent education, family support, early care and education, and health services.
	Provide parenting information.
	Form family support groups.
	Sponsor or host family literacy classes.
	Inform others in your organization/business about the importance of the first years of life.
	Provide family insurance coverage that includes prenatal and maternity care, well child, mental health care and immunizations.
	Conduct surveys or focus groups to learn about the needs of families with young children.
	Inform the public about the importance of the early years on advertisements, promotions and products.
	Include information about healthy early childhood development in professional training and education programs.
	Invite local speakers to offer parenting seminars.
	Communicate concern about the importance of the early years to policy makers.
	Collect information about local early childhood needs and resources, family activities and initiatives.
	Publish information about local early childhood needs and resources, family activities and initiatives.
	Promote and provide immunizations and health exams for young children.
	Publicize the importance of the first years of life.
	Encourage families to read to their children, beginning at birth and throughout childhood.
	Help parents gain access to resources about parenting and child development.
	Learn more about early childhood development.

SUPPORT

	Fund public awareness efforts about the importance of early childhood development.
	Celebrate and honor community leaders and organizations that are making a difference for young children and their families.
	Honor and reward volunteers who provide or improve early childhood programs and services.