Parenting is: rewarding, exhausting, hilarious, and…simply put, challenging. More than ever, parents are looking for ways to ensure that their young children’s physical and mental health, educational, and developmental needs are met.
Today, thanks to a partnership between First Things First Porter County (FTF) and Bright by Text, parenting will be a touch easier.
Bright by Text, a national non-profit, sends free text messages to caregivers across the country to guide and support families and help give every child the brightest possible start in life.
In teaming up with Bright by Text, FTF will share messages with Porter County families, connecting them to local resources and helpful services in their zip code. Families will receive information about Help Me Grow and early childhood service providers, as well as connections to services such as local events, health fairs, library resources, food pantries, and preschool open enrollment periods.
Through this partnership, parents will also receive messages timed exactly to their child’s age, prenatally up to age 11, with helpful information on hot-button topics like sleep, tantrums, picky eating, sibling rivalries and more. Messages share tips, conversation starters, games, activities, videos, and encouragement. Bright by Text messages are created in collaboration with childhood experts such as PBSKIDS, Common Sense Media, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Learn the Signs, Act Early campaign, and others.
“Our partners and providers are often brainstorming how to reach families more directly, and FTF is always excited to help facilitate community connections in Porter County. Bright By Text allows us to better engage with our community and promote early relational health to caregivers.” – Laura Green, Outreach Coordinator at First Things First Porter County
To sign up, parents or other caregivers can text the word PORTER to 274 448.
