2021 Resources and Opportunities

From Your K-12 School Counselors

These programs and organizations are not affiliated with or endorsed by Howell Public Schools.

For personalized support or resources, please reach out to your school counselor.

R E A D I N G  A N D  L E A R N I N G

  • HOWELL PUBLIC SCHOOLS ~ HPS is posting free learning opportunities on the district’s website. You can find these at https://bit.ly/2NiVBYh.
  • HOWELL LIBRARY’S SUMMER READING CHALLENGE ~ Pick up your age group's Bingo card in the library or participate online. Read, explore the library, and be engaged this summer as you complete activity squares on your card to get BINGOs and chances to win prizes. Click here to learn more.
  • KIDS READ NOW if offering virtual reading nights for students in grades BK-4. Kids that participate and read 8 books earn a prize. For more information, follow @kidsreadnow on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
  • FREE TUTORING ~ End the Cycle at the University of Michigan is now expanding its free tutoring program to Livingston County. The program will help K-12 students study after school for any subject over a zoom type platform. Click here for more information!
  • LCC YOUTH PROGRAMS ~ Is your child excited to learn? Do your children like art, robotics, or scripting graphic novels? Youth classes will be held at LCC’s Howell campus in July and feature STEAM-based programming in highly active and engaging classroom scenarios to excite students in 2nd-12th grade. Scholarships are available, but limited. All in-person classes offer before and aftercare supervision. Visit lcc.edu/livcen  for more information, email lifelong@lcc.edu or call 517-483-1415, and enroll today!
  • GRAND RAPIDS ACADEMIC SUMMER PROGRAM (GRASP) ~ GRASP is a summer math and reading correspondence program for children finishing grades Kindergarten through 8th.  Teachers and curriculum professionals developed GRASP as a cost efficient substitute for traditional summer school. The program seeks to help students retain skills learned during the past school year by providing review exercises. Grades K through 3rd get packets, but Grades 4-8 can choose online or packets. Visit GRASP (grps.org) for information.
  • TEACHABLES ~ Scholastic offers free printables and "stay-on-track packs" for students in grades K-6. Go to www.howelllibrary.org → Explore → Homework Help. It is accessible to anyone with an active Howell Library card (hint: the library barcode number is your student’s ID number and the PIN is 1234).
  • HOWELL CARNEGIE DISTRICT LIBRARY ~ They offer Howell Public Schools students access to their online resources using their student ID card. The library barcode number is the student ID number and the PIN is 1234.
  • PBS KIDS ~ Free learning activities, videos, games, and tips for families: https://pbskids.org/.
  • WORLD BOOK KIDS ~ Visit this free website to research animals, play games, and more.
  • SCHOLASTIC offers day-by-day projects to keep kids learning, thinking, and growing: click here for fun!
  • SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES ~ Click here for some good ideas for building skills in the areas of self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, and relationships.

P A R E N T I N G

  • Raising a middle-schooler? Check out these helpful tips!
  • Visit Great Start Livingston for up-to-date information on supports, activities and events for parents and families in Livingston County.
  • Visit https://booksthathealkids.blogspot.com for contemporary book recommendations that address many issues facing children and families, including nutrition, divorce, grief, dog safety, moving, boredom, and sibling rivalry. Then, find them at the library (library barcode number is the student ID number and the PIN is 1234).
  • Visit commonsensemedia.org for independent reviews, age ratings, and other information about all types of media (movies, games, TV shows, books, apps, websites, and music).
  • Click here for tips on positive parenting during times of crisis from the MSU Extension.

J U S T   F O R  F U N

  • COMMUNITY EVENTS ~ Check out Great Start Livingston’s extensive calendar of community events!
  • THE LIBRARY ~ Howell Library has lots of free events, like Mad Science Detroit: Fire & Ice, Songs Around the World, and more! Click here for more information.
  • COMMUNITY SERVICE ~ Create greeting cards to send to troops overseas (amillionthanks.org) or distribute food at a food pantry (foodpantries.org).
  • ART ~ McHarper Manor is going live daily with free art & craft tutorials to create at home with your kids! They’ll have shopping lists (with links to the supplies you can order from Amazon) to have on-hand to complete the projects with us! Or try Art For Kids Hub, where you’ll find all kinds of art lessons for kids, including how to draw, paint and do origami.
  • VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS ~ Travel virtually to places like Mars, The Great Wall of China, zoos, and more.  
  • MUSIC ~ Check out this list of Ultimate Musical Games.
  • BE ACTIVE ~  Go hiking on one of these trails in SE Michigan.
  • SCIENCE ~ Check out these daily science experiments posted by Longway Planetarium and Michigan Science Center.
  • VISION BOARDS ~ A great way to instill hope and keep busy. Check out these tips.

F O O D

  • Click here for the 2021 Food Resource Guide, which includes seasonal food programs, pantries, and hot meals.  
  • The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (P-EBT) will provide food assistance to families of students ages five-eighteen who receive free or reduced-price school meals. Qualifying families will receive $193.80 per child for the months of March and April, and $182.40 per child for the months of May and June combined. If your family's income has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, or if you have had an income change since the beginning of the school year, you may qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. This will provide access to the benefits of the P-EBT program to your family. To review the eligibility requirements for free or reduced-price school meals, or to apply for them, please visit https://bit.ly/2z6nDlP.
  • The Salvation Army of Livingston County will be providing free lunches, dinners, pantry boxes, and craft packs.  
  • For food programs in Livingston County, visit The Livingston Hunger Council.
  • Bountiful Harvest in Brighton offers a food pantry, soup kitchen, clothing pantry, and resource center for kids in the free and reduced lunch program. Call 810-360-0271 to schedule pick-ups and deliveries.
  • Gleaners has several local food distribution sites; call 517.548.3710 for pantry appointments.
  • Locate a pantry in your area, visit www.pantrynet.org or www.fbcmich.org.
  • Michigan Food Assistance Program questions:  Call 1-855-275-6424. To apply for benefits: www.michigan.gov/mibridges.
  • Download the Flash Food App and receive major discounts on food items at Meijer. Items that are nearing their best before date are up to 50% off.

C O V I D - 1 9  I N F O R M A T I O N

  • THE PARENT TOOLKIT ~ If you have not already done so, please review the Livingston County Health Department’s Parent Toolkit. This toolkit provides an overview of COVID-19 and how schools and the health department will work together should there be a possible case of COVID-19 in a building. You can view the toolkit at https://bit.ly/2PLeaoW. The last two pages of the toolkit contain information about when a student should stay home from school.
  • Think you need to be tested? Call the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 hotline at 1.888.535.6136 daily 8am-5pm.
  • Want automatic email updates about the Coronavirus in Michigan? Click here and scroll all the way to the bottom.
  • Want updates on the situation, steps to prevent illness, and answers to common questions? Contact the Center for Disease Control.
  • Want information specific to Livingston County? Click here.

G E N E R A L  A S S I S T A N C E

  • Are you in crisis, or do you have a specific need? Post it on this posting board. Our community is coming together to ensure people’s basic needs are met.
  • “Like” your school’s Facebook page (if applicable) - schools may provide ideas, resources, and information.
  • Call or text 2-1-1 - a hotline that can connect you to services in our community.
  • Here is a Community Resource Sheet that includes support in the areas of child care, medical needs, insurance, housing, employment, senior supports, and more.
  • Connect with local resources (emergency supports, mental health, transportation) at https://www.livgov.com/hscb.

S P E C I A L  C O N C E R N S

  • CABLE ~ Comcast is offering free internet for 60 days for qualifying families until 6/31/21.  Some wireless providers have removed their data limits during this time (AT&T). Please check with your wireless provider to see if they are removing their data limits.
  • BENEFITS ~ To apply for Food, Cash, Medicaid, Emergency Housing or Utility Assistance visit www.michigan.gov/mibridges. If you need assistance applying for benefits call (517) 548-0200.
  • CHILDCARE ~ If you are an Essential Worker (such as first responders, medical personnel, key government officials, etc.) during the COVID-19 pandemic and are in need of child care, please fill out this form: Livingston County Essential Worker Child Care Form.
  • CLOTHES ~ Livingston County Kids Closet supports children who are in need, at-risk, underprivileged, struggling, and/or facing a crisis. They provide FREE clothes, backpacks, hygiene products, toys, and school supplies. Make an appointment to shop: 10140 W. Grand River, Fowlerville; 810.373.2663.
  • CRISIS ~ Are you in crisis, or do you have a specific need? Post it on this posting board. Our community is coming together to ensure people’s basic needs are met.
  • DIAPERS/FORMULA ~  Contact the Pregnancy Help Clinic or LOVE, INC. (517.552.3620).
  • EVICTION ~ Executive Order 2020-19 (a) allows tenants and mobile home owners to remain in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic even if they are unable to stay current on their rent, and (b) relieves courts from certain statutory restrictions to enable them to stay eviction-related proceedings until after the COVID-19 emergency has passed. For more information, visit here.
  • FINANCIAL SUPPORT ~ Our partners at LOC Federal Credit Union have a Financial Education page that covers various financial topics.
  • HOUSING ~ For help with housing, shelter, or emergency utilities, click here.
  • INTERNET ~ FCC to provide $50 per month internet subsidies for low-income families. Click here for more information. To see if you qualify, click here.
  • MONEY ~ Click here for resources and education on money management, foreclosure prevention, buying your own home, retirement planning and more to help you and your family be more financially healthy.
  • PRESCRIPTIONS ~ The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office will deliver groceries and prescriptions to persons 65 and older. Call 517.546.8477 for more information.
  • RENT ~ The recently launched COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) program may provide rental and utility assistance for eligible renter households to avoid eviction and maintain housing stabilit. To view the flyer, click here. To apply, click here: http://ceraapp.michigan.gov/.
  • SOCIAL MEDIA ~ Visit commonsensemedia.org for independent reviews, age ratings, and other information about all types of media (movies, games, TV shows, books, apps, websites, and music).
  • STRESS AND ANXIETY ~ Click here for symptoms, resources and self-care tips.
  • UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ~ Click here to apply for unemployment benefits.

E M O T I O N A L  S U P P O R T

E M P L O Y M E N T  O P P O R T U N I T I E S

Updated 5/21/21