As parents, we are our children's first and most influential teacher!
Home Visiting
Early Head Start - Enhancing the healthy growth and development of young children and their families by providing services, resources and opportunities for success.
Family Mentor Program - The family mentor will assist families in parenting management and support, increase positive parenting strategies and provide effective stress management tools.
Parents As Teachers - Offering parents the knowledge and skills to help their children build a foundation for academic success. Parent educator provides parents with developmental information and activities.
Workshops for Parents with young children and Teens
- MSU Extension Presents: Online - Extension Extras Parenting Hour
Classes for expecting parents and those with infants and very young Children
Childbirth Education Classes through McLaren Thumb Region - This series prepares parents and enhances the opportunity to experience the joy of childbirth. Call 989-269-2882.
STEPS Parenting Program at Positive Alternatives - Learn more about pregnancy, fetal development, newborn care, breastfeeding, and early childhood development. Call 989-269-6760.
Training specific to the prevention of child sexual abuse
Darkness to Light Stewards of Children - Learn how to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. Check back for upcoming training dates.
Local Libraries
Bad Axe Area District Library - has many upcoming programs and events for children and families. Call 989-269-8538 or visit www.badaxelibrary.org for more information.
Websites & AppsCenter for Disease Control - Essentials for parenting toddlers and preschools and other helpful information.
Zero to Three - Provides knowledge and know-how to nurture early development. "Let's Play" ITunes app - Provides fun ideas for keeping babies and toddlers entertained and learning especially during daily routines like commuting time, chores, bedtime and bathtime, mealtime, and shopping. |

What is the lending library? The lending library is a local lending site full of exciting learning materials for parents and early childhood professionals to check out and use. A fun, easy and convenient way to enhance your environment and the experiences for children birth to 5 years of age. Materials are available to loan for a 2 week period and borrowing the material is FREE!
What is available? There are many different bins and kits available. They include:
Where is the lending library located? This lending library is brought to you by the Eastern Regional Resource Center, Huron County Great Start Collaborative and Huron County's Bad Axe Public Library. Learning materials are at the Bad Axe Public Library located at 200 S. Hanselman, Bad Axe, 48413. Check-out at this Huron County location is available Monday - Friday 10am - 8pm and Saturday 10am - 4pm. See Mimi at the front desk or call 989-269-8538 to make an appointment. Other lending library locations serving the thumb are at the Sanilac ISD and St. Clair RESA. For a complete list of lending library materials visit www.GreatStartToQuality.org. If outside the thumb area, please call 1-877-614-7328 for other lending library information across the state.
What is available? There are many different bins and kits available. They include:
- Experience Bins: Theme-based toys and materials plus activity plans that provide ideas for developmentally appropriate hands-on activities.
- CARES (Children Acquiring Rich Experience and Skills) Kits: A toy and activity book that guides learning a specific skill. There are 24 foundational skills and a CARES Kit for each skill.
- Story Stretchers: A storybook and activity ideas for extending the book across multiple areas of development.
Where is the lending library located? This lending library is brought to you by the Eastern Regional Resource Center, Huron County Great Start Collaborative and Huron County's Bad Axe Public Library. Learning materials are at the Bad Axe Public Library located at 200 S. Hanselman, Bad Axe, 48413. Check-out at this Huron County location is available Monday - Friday 10am - 8pm and Saturday 10am - 4pm. See Mimi at the front desk or call 989-269-8538 to make an appointment. Other lending library locations serving the thumb are at the Sanilac ISD and St. Clair RESA. For a complete list of lending library materials visit www.GreatStartToQuality.org. If outside the thumb area, please call 1-877-614-7328 for other lending library information across the state.
Postpartum Mood Disorder
Counseling Resources

There are several counseling facilities located throughout the area.
- All Medicaid health plans accepted
- (No straight Medicaid)
- Advantage Counseling and Educational Services, Inc. (ACES) - 810-679-0200: Croswell; Home-based in Sanilac and St. Clair; - Sliding fee scale (cost is based on income)
- All Medicaid health plans accepted
- (No straight Medicaid)
- Huron Behavioral Health (Huron County Residents Only) - Call Access Alliance 800-448-5498: Bad Axe, Outpatient and Home-based Services call 989-269-9293, Crisis Number call 800-356-5568; - Medicaid only accepted
- Some Medicaid plans accepted
- Some Medicaid plans accepted - Sliding fee scale (cost based on income) - No Medicare and no straight Medicaid |
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- Professional Counseling Services - 989-269-5180 Bad Axe and 810-648-3248 Sandusky; - Many insurance plans accepted
- Private pay
- Sanilac County Community Mental Health (Sanilac County Residents Only) - Call Thumb Alliance 888-225-4447; also the Crisis Number: Sandusky, Outpatient and Home-based Services call 810-648-0330; - Medicaid only accepted
- Thumb Area Psychological Services - 989-872-1800: Cass City; - Blue Cross Blue Shield and many other insurance plans
- Some Medicaid plans accepted
- Medicare accepted
- Sliding fee scale (cost based on income)
Huron / Tuscola Trauma Team
The Huron/Tuscola Trauma Team Mission: "To promote compassionate understanding and support for chilren and families who have experiences trauma by raising the standard of care and providing access to services in Huron and Tuscoal Counties." A compilied list of counseling servies who are available and willing to have you contact them them for ongoing mental health servies are provided through this link.
Your children need you to speak up!

Huron County's children need your voice to speak for them. Elected officials need to hear from the voters, on what you think is important. Call, write, email, or go and visit your elected officials and let them know what is important to you.
For Huron County's State Representative Ed Canfield click here
For Huron County's State Senator Phil Pavlov click here
To contact Governor Rick Snyder click here
For Huron County's State Representative Ed Canfield click here
For Huron County's State Senator Phil Pavlov click here
To contact Governor Rick Snyder click here