Our History

Baraga-Houghton-Keweenaw Child Development Board, Inc. (BHK) is a non-profit 501(C)(3) community agency, founded in 1974, and the region’s largest provider of early education and care, serving families in Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw Counties.

BHK currently delivers multiple collaborative and outcome-based programs funded by state, federal, and local sources, including Early Head Start, Head Start, Great Start Readiness Program, out-of-school time programming for K-5th grades, and tuition-based care.

Since its inception, BHK has been a Head Start (preschool) grantee, adding Early Head Start (prenatal to 3) services in 1999. BHK expanded programs in 2002 to include after school and summer programming for school-age children.

Strong, established relationships with community agencies and school districts assure continued coordination and collaboration in delivery of high-quality services meeting the unique needs of children and families in our communities.

Long recognized as a leader in early childhood education in the State of Michigan, BHK was the sole state nominee to a national competition in which in 2010, BHK was designated a National Center of Excellence by the Federal Administration for Children and Families. Nominated as a leader in innovative and effective, high-quality programming for young children and chosen, in part, due to its successful work in reunification of families and child well-being.

 

  • October is Head Start Awareness Month

    Head Start is an early childhood education model committed to nurturing the whole child from birth to age five. We provide a high-quality education ...

  • BHK Child Development Celebrates 50 Years of Strengthening Families and Community

    On Thursday, June 27th, BHK hosted a 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Bonfire in Houghton to commemorate five decades of strengthening and ...

  • BHK Marks 50 Years

    BHK Marks 50 Years of Transformative Impact: Empowering Thousands of Families, Nurturing Futures Houghton, MI – December 29, 2023– ...

  • MTU Students Make a Difference at BHK

    What an incredibly productive day it was for the annual Make a Difference Day! The impact made by ten dedicated MTU students from Kappa Delta Psi was ...

  • BHK Staff Joins “5K Your Way” to Promote Infant Safe Sleep Awareness in Michigan

    [Houghton, October 23, 2023] – On a crisp autumn evening walk along the scenic shores of Portage Lake, BHK staff came together to participate in ...

  • Great Explorations Awarded Grant to Continue Afterschool and Summer Programs

    [Baraga County] – BHK Child Development was recently awarded the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant by the ...

  • BHK Promotes Access to Local Food Sources for Families

    BHK Child Development plays a vital role in promoting access to local food sources for families in the community. One of their key initiatives is ...

  • BHK Apprentices ‘Earn While They Learn’

    Early childhood education is a rewarding career in a field with high demand. What happens in the early childhood years can affect children for a ...

  • BHK Hosts Open Application Events

    BHK Child Development is accepting applications for the 2023–2024 program year during our Open Application Events on August 9th. BHK will hold ...