Thrive by 5
For Parents Residing in Pinellas County, Florida
It's more than the ABCs. It's supporting our children with a system that's equitable, accountable, and responsive. Because kids grow up to support our communities, our economy, and our future.
The Mission - We can do this… together.
Thrive By Five Pinellas is working to build an early childhood system that’s equitable, accountable, responsive — because Pinellas County's youngest residents deserve equal access to every opportunity for success.
Pinellas County is resource-rich, but too many of our kids continue to struggle. As an action-oriented organization, Thrive By Five is focused on measurable results, accountable leadership, and an ongoing game plan to help kids sooner rather than later. By bringing the right people to the table, and centering those who are often not given a seat, we can do this.
Resources for Parents, Families, Caregivers
Get the support you need to support your child.
Children don’t come with instruction manuals, and sometimes the journey from “expecting” to “expert” can feel like a fraught path! Kindergarten readiness is a path with a lot of steps, but there are lots of supports in our community to help get you and your little ones off to a great start.
Did you know there are four primary components to getting your little one ready for school?
Early Identification and Intervention for Children with Special Needs
If you think your child may have a special need or be best served with extra help, talk with our friends at:
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This free program is designed to support questions and concerns of families, while providing access to resources that could offer early detection for health or developmental concerns.
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Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System is a project of the Florida Department of Education that provides diagnostic, instructional, and technology support services to district exceptional education programs and families of students with disabilities.
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Free support, information and a referral service regarding the inclusion of children with special needs and disabilities in Pinellas County. Request information relating to disability and special health care needs.
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Florida’s Early Steps partners with Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital to provide early intervention and therapy services to eligible infants and toddlers (birth to 3 years old) with significant developmental delays or a condition that may result in a developmental delay.
Ensuring Access to Quality Early Learning Opportunities
Great options for you to consider when looking for places where your little one can learn and grow!
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Children from low- to moderate-income working families or with other identified risk factors, may receive scholarships to attend an early education program.
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Prepare four-year-olds for kindergarten and build the foundation for their educational success. All children who turn 4-years-old on or before September 1st and reside in Florida are eligible to attend a free VPK program.
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FREE community service that offers information and referral services to all families that are looking to find care for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, before and after care for school-age children and summer camp information in Pinellas County.
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High-quality, early educational services available to children and families who otherwise would lack access to these life-changing child and family support services.
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Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) is a home-based, parent involvement, school readiness program that helps parents prepare their three-, four- and five-year old children for success in school and in life.
Physical Needs, Mental Health Needs, and Nutrition Needs
If meeting basic health needs is sometimes a challenge, see if the folks at the following agencies can help:
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Florida children from birth through the end of age 18 are eligible for health insurance coverage. Florida KidCare includes free, subsidized and full-pay options based on family income and household size.
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This Food Assistance Program helps people with low-income buy healthy food.
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WIC is a federally funded nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children. WIC provides the following at no cost: healthy foods, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding support, and referrals for health care.
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Servicing to children 0-5 and their families include assessment, consultation and therapy.
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Wide variety of clinical and nutritional services for residents and visitors alike. Whether you need Primary Care, Dental Services, Laboratory Services, Pediatrics, WIC Services, Family Medical Care, School Based Clinics, or even low-risk outpatient prenatal care.
Getting Support for Family Needs
When meeting the daily needs of your baby or your household feels overwhelming, look to some of these resources to help:
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Helps families with minor children, prevents child protection investigations, homelessness, and further social service engagement by providing families with the right service, at the right time, for the right need.
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Home visiting program focuses on educating and supporting families to be the best parents they can be. The instructions that didn’t come with your baby that everyone could benefit from. We work with families from pregnancy until the child is linked to the school system (up to age 5).
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Healthy Start offers universal screening for all pregnant women at their first prenatal care visit and for infants at their birthing hospital to ensure early preventive care.
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Childbirth education; Newborn care instruction; Breastfeeding education and support; Parenting education and support; Counseling services; Help to quit smoking; Nutritional education; School readiness; Child development education and support; Family planning education; Car seat safety; Infant safety.
Milestone Checklist
Ten check-ups can make a world of difference.
During the first two years of your child's life, it's important to take your little one to the pediatrician for regular check-ups.
Each check-up should include a physical exam, a conversation about appropriate growth, a check-in about developmental milestones, vaccinations, and ample time to ask questions about tips and information on keeping your baby healthy.
As a parent, you know your child better than anyone else, so let your baby's doctor know if you have any concerns about their health and development.
To help you know what you should be looking for around each of these check-ups, we've put together a milestone checklist. Save it, print it, stick it on the fridge. You've got this!
Join Thrive By Five
Be Part of the Change
There are over 8,000 babies born every year in Pinellas County. Getting every one of them ready for kindergarten by the time they’re five years old is a job that takes every one of us living alongside them — from friends, families, teachers, and neighbors, to the folks who live and work with them and their caregivers.
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Bringing together organizations and families throughout Pinellas to ensure all of our youngest neighbors are prepared to thrive in kindergarten and life.