Resources for Parents

Are you or someone you know pregnant and could benefit from being connected to community services and support? If so, then you have the opportunity to take advantage of this program. The HUB utilizes Community Health Workers that assist in decision making during pregnancy. They link you to services in the community that can help you and your baby. Do you need...

• A ride to your doctor’s appointment?
• Baby items like a crib or diapers?
• Help with your other children?
• A doctor’s care?
• A medical card?
• Social Service resources?

We Can Help! Your health and the health of your baby are important. The HUB is a free program that can help you have a healthy pregnancy and delivery. The Community Action Pathways HUB provides support, education and uses life experience to help connect you to other community resources.

Collaborates with public health partners to protect Alliance residents. Nursing Programs:

• Immunizations
• WIC Supplemental Food Program
• Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinic
• Tuberculosis Skin Testing
• HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing
• Children with Medical Handicaps
• Cribs for Kids
• Car Seat Installation/Inspection Station
• Newborn Home Visitation Program
• Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
• Medicaid Enrollment Assistance

Environmental Health Programs

Helping to prevent the spread of disease, promote healthy practices and protect the health of Canton City residents.

• Programs: 
  • Request Narcan Kit via mail by submitting form here.
  • WIC
    • Effective March 16, Canton City WIC services are by APPOINTMENT ONLY. Click here for details. **At this time, infants and children do not need to be present in our office when staff issue food benefits to your WIC Card.*
  • Nursing Division 
    • Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Clinic
    • Childhood Immunization Clinic
    • International Travel Clinic
  • THRIVE
    • Pregnant? Caring for a child under age 1? Stark County THRIVE Community Health Workers can help you connect to local services and items to keep you, your baby, and family healthy! Stark County THRIVE is still accepting clients. If you are pregnant or have a child under age 1, please fill out our online THRIVE Referral Form. You will be contacted by a Community Health Worker who will assist you with connections to services that meet your specific needs. All face-to-face visits will resume once the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
  • Project SWAP
    • Helping to curb the spread of HIV, hepatitis C and other blood-borne infections. More information here.
  • Vital Statistics
    • Our lobby is open to walk-in customers. Hours of operation are 8:00AM - 4:30PM Monday through Friday. Closed weekends, official holidays and other posted times.

Ensuring the accessibility of health services to all Massillon residents:

• Preventing communicable diseases
• Reducing pollution
• Health education programs
• Pest control
• WIC - nutrition education program that provides nutritious foods that promote good health for pregnant women, women who just had a baby, breastfeeding moms and infants and children up to age 5.

Serves the public health needs of more than 250,000 people in Stark County:

• Emergency preparedness
• Environmental health
• Health education
• Kids safety
• Reproductive Health department
• WIC - special supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children
• Naloxone kits at the Stark County Health Department are available by appointment. If interested, please call (330) 493-9928.
• Adult & Children Immunizations
• Cribs For Kids And Safe Sleep Programs
• Baby & Me Tobacco Free

These confidential, cost-free services include:

• Abortion Information
• Adoption Agency Referrals
• Adoption Information
• Maternity & Infant Supplies
• Medical Referrals
• Parenting Education
• Post-Abortion Support
• Pregnancy Options Information
• Pregnancy Tests
• STD/STI Information
• Support for Men
• Ultrasound (Onsite)*

Are you or someone you know pregnant and could benefit from being connected to community services and support? If so, then you have the opportunity to take advantage of this program. The HUB utilizes Community Health Workers that assist in decision making during pregnancy. They link you to services in the community that can help you and your baby. Do you need...

• A ride to your doctor’s appointment?
• Baby items like a crib or diapers?
• Help with your other children?
• A doctor’s care?
• A medical card?
• Social Service resources?

We Can Help! Your health and the health of your baby are important. The HUB is a free program that can help you have a healthy pregnancy and delivery. The Community Action Pathways HUB provides support, education and uses life experience to help connect you to other community resources.

Formerly Stark County Diaper Bank Offer support to families in times of need by providing access to diapers through a network of community partners. Also provide community partners with:

• Pad and Tampon Packs
• Adult Incontinence Supplies

We are a nonprofit that provides a local hub to collect, sort and distribute items to those in need.

Serves the public health needs of more than 250,000 people in Stark County:

• Emergency preparedness
• Environmental health
• Health education
• Kids safety
• Reproductive Health department
• WIC - special supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children
• Naloxone kits at the Stark County Health Department are available by appointment. If interested, please call (330) 493-9928.
• Adult & Children Immunizations
• Cribs For Kids And Safe Sleep Programs
• Baby & Me Tobacco Free

Report child abuse: 330-455-KIDS / 1-800-233-5437 Partner with our customers, community and other service providers to protect children and vulnerable adults, stabilize and strengthen families, and encourage self-sufficiency and personal responsibility.

• Cash assistance
• Food assistance
• Medicaid & Medical
• Non-emergency transportation - Transportation to and from Medicaid-qualified appointments, including doctor visits, dental visits, vision appointments and more.
• Child care services
• Work experience program - Program participants are matched with local businesses and organizations in exchange for public assistance benefits.
• Subsidized Employment Program (SEP) - Supports local employers by offsetting the costs of hiring and training new employees.
• Foster care & adoption
• Kinship care
• Child support services
• Project KARE
• Healthy Start - Medicaid-funded program providing basic medical coverage for pregnant women and children up to 19 years old.
• PRC Plan - providing short-term assistance to address an emergent need and help families retain and maintain employment.

Accurate, up-to-date information and pregnancy support:

• Pregnancy testing
• Limited ultrasound
• STD testing
• First prenatal visit
• Community referrals
• Education and resources
• Post-abortion counseling
• Support Groups

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio mails kids one free book each month until his or her 5th birthday. Any child in Ohio between birth and age 5 is eligible for the program, which is available at no cost to families. Stark Library sponsors this program in Stark County.

Start Smart programming and events for children from infants to pre-teens. For information about Technology Training Services, contact [email protected]. Multiple branches throughout Stark County. Visit the website to find the closest one.

Ten-week summer day camp program for children ages 6 to 12.

Parks, trails, classes and activities for Stark County residents of all ages. Located at Petros Lake park, there is a one-mile Mindfulness Walk trail marked with 10 stations that help you practice the art and science of being mindful. Mindfulness is a helpful tool for an overall self-care lifestyle.

Studio classes and workshops available throughout the year as well as a Summer Art Camp for young people under the age of 18.

Massillon Museum is an art and history museum in downtown Massillon. Admission is always free. The Museum offers free or low-cost classes, workshops, and events for all ages. A Sensory Room is available for guests on the Museum's Lower Level. Massillon Museum is proud to be a member of Museums for All, offering reduced membership pricing and program discounts to those receiving SNAP benefits, and Blue Star Museums, offering membership and program discounts to active duty military personnel and their families. Learn more about the Museum at www.MassillonMuseum.org.

AHEAD Inc. is a non-profit organization supporting the social, emotional, and educational needs of families in the Massillon community.

For nearly twenty years, the Early Childhood Education Alliance has been focused on providing quality early childhood experiences for children and families in Alliance, Ohio. Thanks to our partners, ECEA is able to connect families with resources and programs that ensure children enter kindergarten ready to succeed. ECEA believes it is important to EDUCATE, ADVOCATE, and COLLABORATE because early experiences last a lifetime.

The Early Childhood Resource Center (ECRC) promotes healthy development through family strengthening and early education resources:

• Child care information and referrals
• Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids (SPARK) kindergarten readiness program
• Professional development resources for educators
• Home and group-based learning opportunities
• Developmental screenings and community resource connections
• Car seat help

Find a list of child care programs in Stark County here. 

Classes on critical health topics for women who are pregnant or guardians of children under 12 months old.

Home Visiting is a voluntary, home-based program offered at no cost to your family.  Our home visitors are well-trained professionals who use a compassionate approach that offers information and support during pregnancy, and empowers you as the parent with skills, tools, and confidence to nurture the healthy growth of your child through the earliest years – a critical time of development.

Breastfeeding support group offering mother-to-mother encouragement, information and education.

MentorStark is a central hub to help people find youth and young adult development programs and activities in Stark County. Whether you want to volunteer for a program or find an opportunity for yourself or your child, MentorStark is here to help! Learn more: https://www.mentorstark.org/ 

Self-help group encouraging parents to make lasting, effective, positive changes in their lives.

Pathway is a private agency working with 14 Northeast Ohio Counties. A patient and loving home can make a world of a difference for a child coming from a troubled background. We walk you through every step of your foster care or foster-to-adopt journey. Being a foster parent takes resilience, creativity, flexibility, humor, and love. There is so much room for healing. YOU will be that soft landing spot as children begin to pick up the broken pieces of their lives.

• On site Training
• 24/7 Support
• Community Building
• Mental Health Wraparound Services

Helping children and families realize the possibilities of their lives through foster care, adoption, and mental health.

• Transitional Age Services
• Individual or group therapy
• Support groups
• Case management

Start Smart programming and events for children from infants to pre-teens. For information about Technology Training Services, contact [email protected]. Multiple branches throughout Stark County. Visit the website to find the closest one.

The mission of the Stark County Fatherhood Coalition is to encourage fathers to take an active and positive role in their child’s life, and to promote and sponsor activities designed to strengthen families. The Coalition holds monthly meetings at the Goodwill Community Campus on the second Thursday of each month at 10am. If you would like additional information please call 330-451-8477. You can also visit us on Facebook facebook.com/starkcountyfatherhoodcoalition Download the following documents for helpful information:

• Free Services for Fathers
• Stark County Parenting Time Order Program
• Criminal Expungement Information Clinics

Wraparound services for youth and families who have complex, multi-system needs. Visit their website for more information.

Accurate, up-to-date information and pregnancy support:

• Pregnancy testing
• Limited ultrasound
• STD testing
• First prenatal visit
• Community referrals
• Education and resources
• Post-abortion counseling
• Support Groups