In partnership with The Cleveland Orchestra, there are FREELY available 40+ weeks of daily mindfulness exercises. The exercises are available as YouTube videos, about 5 minutes long each, and designed to facilitate brain development with music and mindfulness instruction. The exercises were developed for ages preschool through 12th grade, but
Some kids live on blocks where none of the homes really participate in Halloween, or not in a kid friendly way. For these kids, optional locations for celebrating Halloween are a must! There are a number of locations throughout Cincinnati that are having safe events for kids to go trick-or-treating
Completing an application for Medicaid and SNAP services can be incredibly challenging for individuals with poor education or limited literacy skills. Additionally, those with physical or mental disabilities may face barriers in understanding and filling out the necessary paperwork. Busy schedules, especially for individuals juggling work and childcare responsibilities, can
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library partners with Governors’ offices throughout the United States to provide FREE Children’s Books to any child up to the age of 5. Families that enroll receive one FREE book each month until the eligible child’s 5th birthday. You can check if your state participates in the
Free afterschool meals for kids and teens are available at select library branches throughout Cincinnati and Hamilton County. In partnership with United Methodist Church Food Ministry, kids ages 1 through 18 can enjoy FREE meals Mondays through Fridays at the Library throughout the school year. There are 15 participating branches
Families comprise 40% of the homeless population. Children in these families typically change schools 7 to 8 times per year, significantly disrupting their peer relationships and education. There are several programs in Hamilton County using a single gateway specifically focusing on the provision of housing support to homeless families with
The National Association for Children of Addiction produces a booklet called “Tools for Kids” to support healthy development of children impacted by addiction in their family. The 2024 version of the booklet provides children with important information about addiction, how addiction impacts kids, what kids can do, and how children
The State of Ohio has indefinitely suspended the Afterschool Child Enrichment Educational Savings Account Program. The program provided eligible families up to $1000 on allowable afterschool activities for childhood enrichment. The program provided this assistance to Ohio families of children ages 6 to 18 who meet income requirements or reside
Extra money is available to SNAP recipients this summer to make sure kids are getting the meals they need during summer break. Traditionally there has been no change in the amount of SNAP benefits one receives during the school year and summer, despite the fact that children have lunch provided
Summer recreational facilities, such as swimming pools, play a vital role in the development of youth, particularly for those from low-income backgrounds. Swimming pools provide an opportunity for children to engage in physical activity, socialize with peers, and learn important life skills such as teamwork and sportsmanship. For many low-income
All children under the age of 18 are eligible to receive free meals during the summer months through a program offered by the Ohio Department of Education. Individuals ages 19 through 21 are also eligible for this program, if they have been identified as having mental or physical disabilities, and
Research shows that kids who practice reading and math skills over the summer can keep and even improve upon the progress they made during the school year. Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Libraries are committed to helping kids do this, and have fun with it. With these objectives, the “Discover
The Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Maternal, Child and Family Health partners with Cribs for Kids and local organizations throughout Ohio to provide free pack-and-plays and safe sleep education to eligible families. Many homes lack safe sleeping spaces for babies. Sleeping in a bed with a baby or placing