What is Parenting Communities?

The guiding mantra of Parenting Communities is

“Helping Us All Be the Parents We Dream of Being.”

Parenting Communities helps families feel connected and supported in their community through home visits, playgroups, and family-centered events.  All parents benefit by adding tools to their parenting toolbox and deserve support through the joys and challenges of parenting.

Home Visiting:  Home visits are a direct service to Leelanau County families with children birth to age six and are completely voluntary.  The multidisciplinary team is composed of Community Health Workers, nurses, a lactation consultant, social worker, and Spanish-speaking staff.  All are also parents and community-members, raising children alongside the families they support; they understand and care deeply about the wellbeing of families in the community.

Home visits are typically 60 minutes in length and occur on the frequency that works best for parents – weekly, bi-weekly, once a month, or as needed.  Home visits are individualized to serve each family’s unique needs, and could focus on areas such as:

  • Child development and developmental screenings

  • Activities to do at home with your child(ren)

  • Exploring new ways to understand behaviors

  • Support with the complexities of raising a family

  • Creating shared experiences with your child(ren) to aid them in their lifelong journey of learning

  • Reflecting on family life, parenting, the child(ren), and relationships in a safe, non-judgmental way

  • Managing stress

  • Accessing resources in the community


When appropriate, referrals are provided for developmental screenings (vision, hearing, sensory, cognitive, etc.), special needs services, dental care, and mental health services; early access to professional is crucial in these instances. Additionally, home visitors help parents access pother community supports including the baby pantry, food pantry, District Health Dept., schools, child care providers, and more.

Playgroups: Playgroups are hosted 4 days/week throughout the county all year long. Playgroups are a great opportunity for little ones to play and learn with their peers, as well as provide parents and caregivers a chance to connect with other adults in the community. Playgroups promote literacy, developmentally appropriate activities for young children, social connection, and the sharing of information. The playgroup schedule is available in the monthly newsletter, on the website, and Facebook page.  Familiar faces and new folks are welcome each week!

Community Events:  Parenting Communities hosts a variety of community events to create spaces for families with young children in Leelanau County. These events strengthen the community and form lasting connections between families. Events are centered around family fun, social connections, and supporting one another through parenting.  In 2023, Parenting Communities hosted their second annual street fair, which gave families the opportunity to engage with one another, meet community partners, learn about area resources, and participate in family-fun activities that promote child development and family bonding.  Other events include: a sing-along concert with Miriam Pico, seasonal celebrations, potlucks, and Families Together, an ongoing collaborative learning opportunity to foster a richer understanding of our emotions and connection with our children.  Participants explore coregulation and dig deep into social-emotional development and learn together how to apply these concepts at home.

Parenting Communities helps parents be the parents they dream of being.

Sign up for Parenting Communities: Participation Form

Learn more about what Parenting Communities is offering in your community:

History of Parenting Communities

Parenting Communities is a local, grass-roots initiative that has provided focused and in-depth services to families with young children for more than 25 years.

Parenting Communities has evolved and grown since its inception.  Initially, it was a source of additional support through the Leelanau County Family Coordinating Council as a response to gaps in resources and services available to Leelanau families.  In order to provide direct support services to families with young children, Parenting Communities has partnered with local schools, churches, community groups and many advocates.

Early on, Parenting Communities staff discovered that many young families wanted to gather and get to know other young families. They learned that parents have concerns that they would like to talk about but are hesitant or unsure with whom to talk. Many special events were created to provide young parents ways to engage.

Originally funded through community support and donations, in 2019 voters passed the Leelanau Early Childhood Millage, which now makes Parenting Communities funding more stable and sustainable.  Since 2020, Parenting Communities has operated through the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department and is funded solely by the Leelanau Early Childhood Millage (a 0.253 millage for five years). Services are free to all Leelanau County residents with children ages 0-6. Staying true to their roots, Parenting Communities continues to provide direct services to families in Leelanau County through community partnerships, events, and home visiting.

LECDC’s top priority is to ensure that the effective services offered to young families by Parenting Communities continues.

Check out what is offered to families with young children on the PC Facebook page.