The Office of Children and Families (OCF) offers support to Howard County families and children in a variety of ways.
OCF's November family workshops connect parents to information to support your infant's early brain development and take the stress out of family travel during the holidays. Also, find tips to handle a picky eater and navigate co-parenting after divorce or separation.
Our staff works with families to discuss concerns you may have about your child, identify their needs and help you find solutions. For assistance, information and referrals, call 410-313-CARE (2273).
Here's what parents say about our workshops:
"I took a lot from this webinar- especially the positive rephrasing. Thank you so much." - Michelle
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November Parent Workshops
View the full November workshop descriptions online.
Brain Builders: Infant years
9830 Patuxent Woods Dr, Columbia 21046
Gain an understanding of an infant's developing brain and how simple daily interactions and activities can support brain connections. Bring your baby and receive a brain-building gift. Free.
Travel activities for children
Free virtual workshop
Traveling by plane, train or automobile this holiday season? Join us as we share hands-on travel activities to keep your little ones engaged, learning and having fun while getting from “here to there.” Get tips on entertainment ideas, survival strategies and practical advice to help make your upcoming trip a success!
Picky eating: How to help your child grow and eat a balanced diet
Free virtual workshop
Helping your infant and toddler build healthy eating habits for life is very important, yet daunting. Review typical infant to toddler development, eating patterns, growth, and how to determine when to ask for help.
Parenting Apart: Navigating co-parenting through the holiday season and beyond
Free virtual workshop
Explore essential considerations to create an access schedule that prioritizes your children's well-being throughout the year, but especially during the holidays. Gain insights into effectively managing common co-parenting issues and learn valuable communication and co-parenting strategies to navigate this period of transition, as well as resources for ongoing support and assistance.
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Congratulations to Amber Eash and Lisa Hendricks
Two dedicated Office of Children and Families staff members were honored at the Howard County Employee Recognition Awards in October. Pictured with Erin Bonzon, OCF administrator (pictured, center), Lisa Hendricks (right) received the 2023 Mentoring Award, and Amber Eash (left) won the Customer Service Award.
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Howard County's Family Support Center is now open!
The Family Support Center (FSC) offers comprehensive, family-centered, community-based programs for parents and caregivers of children from birth to age five. Center staff promote the full development and well-being of children, enhance the quality of parent and child interactions, and are the link to services for overall parent and family self-sufficiency and sustainability. The FSC is located at 97 90 Patuxent Woods Drive in Columbia, 2104 6. Operating hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For questions, email Kristin Reel: kreel@howardcountymd.gov
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Let's get moving!
During the first year of life, babies learn by interacting with you. Play is the main way infants learn how to move, communicate, and understand their surroundings. Encourage your baby to explore their curiosity and let them crawl around to move their body. Dangle some fun objects above your baby to encourage reaching. Tummy time gives your baby opportunities to learn to lift their head to get a different view of their surroundings. Lastly, make funny faces, smile and laugh because your baby loves watching you the most!
To receive tips directly to your phone, sign up for Basics Insights weekly text messages with suggestions based on your child’s developmental stage, from birth to age five (available in English or Spanish).
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Support the Howard County Diaper Project on Giving Tuesday
Help give Howard County parents peace of mind and keep their babies dry and healthy. On November 28, Giving Tuesday - and every day - each dollar you contribute to the Howard County Diaper Project will go toward purchasing diapers to distribute to Howard County families in need. Donate today! In-person donations of diapers and wipes can be made at the Howard County Family Support Center, 9790 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, 21046 and the Howard County Food Bank, 9385 Gerwig Lane, Suite J, Columbia, 21046. Thank you for your generous support! |
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Howard County partners with Columbia Community Care to expand PUSH program
With the support of the County Executive's YEP! grants, Howard County is partnering with Columbia Community Care to expand the PUSH (Perservere Until Success Happens) program for middle and high school youth. This free afterschool program offers opportunities for sports and activities, mentorship, career workshops, and much more. To learn more about PUSH and how to sign up, visit Columbia Community Care's website.
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Maryland Child Care Scholarship program offers virtual office hours
November 14, noon to 1:00 p.m.
Child Care Scholarship program staff will offer virtual office hours for families and providers who have questions about scholarships or open applications. They will answer questions, assist with applications and payments, and tell you what to do if you have problems with your scholarship account. For assistance with the application process, contact the CARE Line to speak with a Howard County Family Resource Specialist at 410-313-2273 (voice/relay).
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New mom's support group
November 14 - January 9, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Share experiences with other new moms and their babies up to five months old. This eight week group session meets virtually via Zoom and includes support, referrals, guest speakers, parenting topics, and an opportunity to meet and connect. Sponsored by Howard County Medical Center.
Keeping our children safe
Parents want to protect their children and keep them safe all year long. During November, Child Safety and Protection Month, take some time to teach your children the essentials of staying safe. If you have young children, start by properly childproofing your home. Go over fire safety tips with the entire family. Teach your kids how to be aware of their surroundings and about dangerous situations. This is also a good time to discuss an emergency plan with your family, to prepare for natural disasters like tornadoes or earthquakes. For more information about safety rules to teach your children and keep them out of harm's way, visit SafeHome.org. |
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Vaccines can protect children against seasonal illness
Vaccines are scientifically proven to be among the safest and most effective ways of protecting babies and children from diseases. With COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases on the rise, and flu season underway, now is a good time to get your family vaccinated. If you are not sure which vaccines to consider, view a quick primer on available vaccines, then discuss the options your child's pediatrician.
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Howard County Library System (HCLS) highlights
HCLS offers events for all ages, both in-person at branches throughout Howard County and virtually, online. View the calendar of upcoming events, and check out these events especially for children and families:
Book Bingo (ages 4-10)
November 3, 4 to 5 p.m. / Savage Branch
Magformers® Mania (ages 6-9)
November 4, 2 p.m. / Central Branch
Boost your engineering skills by building with Magformers®.
Cuentos en Español y Tiempo de Juego (ages 0-5 con adulto)
November 4, 10:30 to 11 a.m. / Elkridge Branch
Únase a nosotros para cuentos, canciones y rimas en español. Seguido de un tiempo de juego.
3, 2, Math Fun (ages 2-3, with an adult)
November 8, 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. / Miller Branch
Brainy Acts (ages 0-5, with an adult)
November 18, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. / Glenwood Branch
Brainy Acts are actions families can weave into everyday routines to boost language development, build foundations for literacy, and encourage school readiness.
Biz Kids Academy Computer Games & Mentoring (ages 6-11)
November 18, noon to 2 p.m. / East Columbia Branch / Registration opens November 4 |
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Recycle your pumpkins
Howard County residents in the Feed The Green Bin food scrap collection program can set pumpkins out on their regular collection day. Not sure of your day? Use the online look-up tool to find out. Here are some other options to "retire" your pumpkins through Howard County's Harvest Heap:
Pumpkin Palooza!
November 18, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City 21042
Enjoy games, activities, crafts, and food, and ask a Master Gardener about composting, growing gourds and harvesting tips. Collected pumpkins will be taken to Alpha Ridge Landfill to be composted.
Pumpkin collection sites for "sunken pumpkins" composting:
- Clark's Elioak Farm, 10500 Clarksville Pike: November 1-17, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Alpha Ridge Landfill, 2350 Marriottsville Road: Monday - Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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MyPlate is now on Instagram! Follow @MyPlate_gov to discover how the benefits of healthy eating can add up over time for your family, bite by bite. Each week, get recipes, tips for healthy eating and more with themes such as #MyPlateMondays, #RecipeThursdays and #BudgetFriendlyFridays. For more healthy eating ideas, attend "Picky Eating: How to help your child grow and eat a balanced diet," a free workshop offered virtually on November 30 at 7 p.m. Register now. |
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Mental Health resources in Howard County
Howard County is invested in supporting the mental health of the young people in our community. Families can find online links to connect to crisis supports, resources, get navigation assistance or find a provider using the Howard County Mental Health Resource Guide. Here are other local resources for families dealing with mental health challenges.
Understanding and managing challenging behaviors
November 8, 7 to 8:30 p.m. / virtual event / Register
The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) Parent Empowerment Series supports families of students up to age 21 who have an IEP/IFSP. In this interactive workshop, a HCPSS behavior specialist will discuss the function that behavior serves. Attendees will develop an understanding of the ABCs of behavior (antecedent-behavior-consequence), focusing on reframing ideas of what "consequence" means. Explicit proactive and responsive strategies for the home setting will be shared. For more information, email FSRC@hcpss.org. |
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Grassroots expands
Grassroots' new location in Columbia substantially expands its 24-hour crisis intervention, mental health, substance use disorder, housing support and suicide prevention services. This will help Grassroots meet the increased demand for urgent and ongoing mental health and substance use disorder services in Howard County. Individuals will be able to access enhanced free, 24-hour walk-in counseling, homeless services, crisis stabilization, resources and more at 8990 Old Annapolis Road, Suite A. Learn more. |
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