Community Resources:

• First Call for Help:  211 or www.unitedwayhelps.org

• Central MN Mental Health Center Crisis Line:  24 hours  800-635-8008

• Crisis Nursery:  763-241-2600

• MN Poison Control: 800-222-1222

• Reach-Up Head Start: 877-848-4912 

• Big Lake Food Shelf: 763-263-2432

• 24 hour General Depression Hotline: 800-784-2433

• Central MN Mental Health Center:  763-441-3770

• Child Care Choices: 800-288-8549 for help finding childcare     

• Early Intervention Services: 763-272-2946 Services for children with special needs, or for questions about your child’s development.

• La Leche League of Monticello -- www.lalecheleague.org   All breastfeeding mothers and mothers-to-be interested in breastfeeding are welcome to come to our meetings or call one of our Leaders for breastfeeding help or information. Babies are always welcome at our meetings.  La Leche League Leaders are experienced mothers who have breastfed their own babies and who have been trained and accredited by La Leche League International to help mothers and mothers-to-be with all aspects of breastfeeding. They are available by phone whenever you have breastfeeding questions or concerns. If you prefer to receive help via email, please submit your question using the LLLI Help Form at http://lalecheleague.org/help_form. Thank you.
  Groups and Leaders in Minnesota
  Call (612) 922-4996 for a referral to your nearest LLL Group. Or, e-mail or call a Leader for meeting locations and directions
         Elaine: 763-712-0859
         Kay: 320-252-8467
         Linda: lindajohn2002@msn.com
  Para Español, habla con Connie: 763-566-1409

• Parent Warmline:  612-813-6336 is a FREE telephone service sponsored by Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. The Warmline provides parents with person-to-person support, practical advice and resources about parent-child relationships and the behavior and development of children from infants to teens.

• Sherburne County "Follow Along Program":  For infants and children up to 48 months of age... Babies and young children grow and learn at their own rate. The Follow Along Program can help you know if your child is playing, talking, growing, moving, and behaving similar to other children of the same age.  Some children may need special help to grow up healthy and learn skills such as sitting, walking, or talking. The Follow Along Program can help you know if this is true for your child.  Just call Sherburne County Public Health at 763-241-5750 or 800-433-5237.

• Sherburne County “Kids Klinic”: 763-241-2750 or 800-433-5237  Kids Klinic offers regular health maintenance checkups and immunizations (Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00am - 4:30pm) for children birth to 18 years of age.  Fees are based on income or medicaid eligible, but services are not denied due to inability to pay.  If your insurance does not cover well child care and immunizations, or if you have no health insurance for your children, call Kids Klinic for affordable health care.

• Sherburne County Public Health: 763-241-2750 or 800-433-5237 www.co.sherburne.mn.us/pubhealth   Immunizations, child/teen checkups, family planning, pregnancy testing, prenatal care, postpartum care, WIC, vision, disease prevention, hearing, blood pressure screenings, foot care, Follow Along program.

• Sherburne County Public Health Car Seat Safety Program
  Sherburne County Public Health offers new convertible, combination and booster seats for a $20 suggested donation through car seat distribution classes.  A Child Passenger Safety Technician will teach the class and will help families install the child restraint in their vehicle and secure the child.  Distribution classes are 90 minutes long and are scheduled twice a month.  Call 1-800-433-5237 or 763-241-2750 to sign up for the next class!
  
  Eligibility Requirements:  Resident of Sherburne County that meets the income guidelines for family size. Call to find out income guidelines.  Families who are on WIC or children on Medical Assistance are automatically eligible.  Eligible UCare MN and Medica members can receive a car seat at no cost.

• Sherburne County Social Services: 241-2600 or 800-433-5239

• S.P.A.R.K. (Special Parents and Remarkable Kids) www.nwspark.com   “Our Parent Network to motivate and support families with special needs children in the NW Minneapolis suburbs.  We share our experiences, joys, and challenges to foster a welcome environment, thus building a network of resources.  You don’t need to make this journey alone.  Please join us!

• St. Mary’s Health Clinics:  651-690-7029  A group of free clinics located throughout the Twin Cities metro.

• S.T.A.R.S. for Children’s Mental Health:  763-271-5322 or 877-333-0083 for help with finding Mental Health Resources.

• WIC Program:  763-241-2750 or 800-433-5237  WIC is a program for families to learn the latest nutrition information and to provide their children with healthy foods.  Women and children receive vouchers for healthy foods including milk, cheese, juice, cereal, eggs, beans, peanut butter, and infant formula.  If you are pregnant, breast feeding, recently had a baby, and/or have a child under the age of five years, you could qualify.  Call Sherburne County Public Health to see if you are income-eligible and for more information.

• Autism Support Group  Becker
• Please join us for an informal gathering where parents meet to discuss autism and the impact on the family.  We exist to offer support, education and resources to parents.
•    • Monthly gathering
     • Parent-facilitated
     • Childcare provided free
     • Pizza provided at no cost
  WHERE:     Becker Intermediate School   
  WHEN:    6:30-8:00PM  --  3rd Thursday of every month
  RSVP:    Pat Brown, School Social Worker --  pbrown@becker.k12.mn.us   -- or --   763-261-4504 ext. 2051

• Autism and Down Syndrome Support Groups: (Elk River)
  *Groups meet separately at the same time.
• Autism Support Group:This is a parent facilitated, informal gathering for discussion of both challanges and joys faced by parents of children on the Autism Spectrum. A medical diagnosis is not required. Preschool and Elementary school aged topics will be covered. Occasionally speakers are brought in to feature a special interest area.

• Down Syndrome Support Group:
• All are welcome to join this parent facilitated, informal gathering for discussion of both challanges and joys faced by parents of children with Down Syndrome. If you have    questions regarding this group, please contact the parent facilitators: Heather Coudron, (763) 274-1710 or email  woodland132@yahoo.com or Julie Mielke, (763) 856-1078 or email  mielkman@hotmail.com

         WHERE:  Handke Family Center, Elk River  7:00-9:00pm
         WHEN:  1st Wednesday of every month
         Walk-ins are welcome.

• Creating Positive Social Interaction for Children for ASD
  The Village Family Service Center in St. Cloud is beginning a 1 1/2 hour, weekly group for children ages 4-7 who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder or Pervasive Developmental Disorder.  For more information, or to register your child, call The Village Family Service Center:  (320) 253-5930.    www.TheVillageFamily.org.
  
  Group meets Tuesdays 3:00-4:30 pm
  
  Through the group, children will learn to relate to family members better, to communicate their feelings, to be more successful in their home and community, and to explore/interact positively with their environment using appropriate coping stratagies.  The group will use music, books, videos, games, art activities, role plays, worksheets and sensory activities to teach skills based on the following topics --  • anger management • communication • identifying feelings • coping techniques • self esteem • social / friendship skills

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