Parenting Support for the Year Ahead

As 2026 begins, we want to share an important reminder: January isn’t about reinventing yourself; you are already enough.

As we ease into the new year together, we are sharing some little boosts of encouragement, as well as some community events, to carry you through the weeks ahead.

Before we do, we wanted to check in with a quick update about our lead services.

Bright Beginnings supports families by helping to reduce the impact of lead on their children’s health and development. Starting in 2026, there will be a change in the work Bright Beginnings has done with children ages 3 years to 5 years through the Parent Support Lead Program. The Better Health Partnership Pathways HUB (BHP) will now facilitate referrals to agencies in Cuyahoga County that employ community Health workers (CHWs). These CHWs will provide services to families with children ages 3-6 who have elevated blood lead levels of 3.5 or higher. This new service replaces the Bright Beginnings Parent Support Lead Program.

Bright Beginnings will continue to provide services for children with elevated blood lead levels ages birth to 3 through Help Me Grow Early Intervention. Learn more here.

Kick Off 2026 with a Family Reading Challenge

✨ New Years Tip: Reading aloud helps young children build vocabulary, strengthen listening skills, and succeed in school. A Family Reading Challenge is a fun way to explore new books, celebrate milestones, and build a lifelong love of stories together.

Read the blog post to learn how!

Many dads are carrying more than they let on. A recent USA TODAY and Peacock survey found that:

74% of fathers say parenting impacts their work, and many report feeling anxious, burned out, or overwhelmed by constant decision-making.

1 in 3 fathers feel pressure to be a “perfect” parent or worry about their child’s future and mental health.

Dads, if this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Taking care of yourself is part of being a strong parent.

✨ New Years Tip: Consider one small way to support your own well-being. Remember, we are here to help!

Thank you to all the families who joined us for our Snapshots with Santa event in early December. We had so much fun watching your children’s faces light up as they met Santa and his elf.

✨ New Years Tip: Events like these create meaningful family time and strengthen community connections, both essential to positive parenting. Stay connected with us here on Facebook and Instagram for more ways to build strong bonds in 2026.

Meet Alaunna Nelson: Parents as Teachers Parent Educator

Alaunna holds a B.A. in Psychology and has experience working with children from infancy through school age. Her passion for youth development and her own positive experience as a Home Visiting parent inspired her to join the Bright Beginnings team. Outside of work, Alaunna is a proud mother, an avid reader, and enjoys spending time with family, traveling, playing cards and board games, and line dancing.

“I love making a healthy, lasting impact on children and their families,” Alaunna shares.

In the new year, get parenting support that works. Join our next Triple P discussion group and explore more resources on our Triple P page.

Bright Beginnings will be tabling at these events, so come say hi and learn more about our services and programs!

University Rainbow Ahuja Center for Women & Children

📅Thursday, January 8 (9:00 AM - 3:00 PM)

📌 UH Rainbow Babies Midtown

5805 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44103

Look for us in the lobby of UH Rainbow Babies Midtown!

Greater Cleveland Food Bank Community Resource Center Hours

📅Tuesday, January 13, 2025 (10:00 AM - 3:00 PM)

📌 Greater Cleveland Food Bank Community Resource Center

1550 South Waterloo Road, Cleveland, OH 44110

Be sure to catch Rachel, our Community Liaison, early in the event!

Be My Neighbor Day

📅Saturday, January 17 (10:00 AM - 1:00 PM)

📌 Cleveland Museum of Natural History

1 Wade Oval Drive, Cleveland, OH 44106

Register for this FREE, family-friendly event for preschoolers and their parents! Be My Neighbor Day celebrates caring for our community and includes free admission to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

For more Bright Beginnings events, head to our events calendar!

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