B-H-K Child Development Board:
Is a non-profit agency offering early childhood education and family services in Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw counties. B-H-K provides free preschool for 3, 4 and 5 year olds and low-cost year-round childcare for children 6 weeks to 6 years at safe, licensed centers around the Copper Country. Home-based preschool is also available. Free or low-cost family services include:

• assistance with completing high school or GEDs

• health and developmental screenings for children birth to 5

• family support and fitness services for pregnant moms

• wellness programs and gym memberships for the entire family

• enhanced savings programs for buying a home, attending college or building a business

• Parent Resource Centers with toy and book lending libraries

• a mobile toy and book lending library

• parent-child playgroups

• Father’s Groups

• Superior AmeriCorps

To register or learn more, see "Head Start" or call 482-3663 (Houghton County), 524-7300 (Baraga County), or 1-800-236-5657 (toll-free)

Michigan Commission for the Blind:
Provides a variety of services to persons who are blind or visually impaired. These services cover a wide variety of programs covering the entire age range from students as early as Kindergarten, all the way to older adults in their senior years. All services are provided at no cost to the consumer once eligibility criteria are met. Our Youth Low Vision Program is designed to obtain state certified low vision exams for students from Kindergarten through high school graduation. In addition to providing funding for this exam, headborne low vision aids are also provided to the students as needed. Our Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program provides transition services to students beginning at age 14 and is geared toward preparing the student for life after high school. Our VR program also provides employment exploration and training for anyone age 14 and up through adulthood. Our Independent Living (IL) Program is designed to provide training to older adults who do not wish to become employed, but still desire to remain as independent as possible. All of our programs focus on adaptive teaching and training utilizing a variety of adaptive techniques and technologies. The contact person for Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw counties is: Michael Welch at 1-800-323-2535.

Michigan State University Extension Service:
Provides the communities with research-based, high quality programming in areas of Children, Youth, and Family, Agriculture and Natural Resources, as well as Community and Economic Development. Some programs are the Master Gardner program, CHARACTER COUNTS!, Forestry Stewardship and H.O.T. (Hazards of Tobacco). Many bulletins and videos are available, for loan or purchase, on a variety of topics.

• The Family Nutrition Program helps individuals, families and groups eligible to receive food stamps to better manage their resources for healthy eating.
• The 4-H Program offers adult and older teen volunteer leaders an opportunity to positively influence social and personal development and foster a variety of interests of young people ages 5-19 in their community over an extended period.
• Better Kids Care provides instruction for parents and child care providers.
• Agricultural and Natural Resources provides educational programs on land use, forestry and gardening.
• Parenting Programs (Baraga County): How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, Siblings Without Rivalry, Building Strong Adolescents Through Parenting.

* Houghton County: 1500 Birch Street, Hancock. Phone: 482-5830
* Baraga County: Courthouse Annex, L’Anse. Phone: 524-6300