FamilySpace

The Need

In Greater Cleveland, many families with young children experience obstacles that impact their ability to thrive. These include housing insecurity, uncertain childcare, unstable income, child development concerns, and social isolation.

The FamilySpace initiative’s early success shows that families with young children are looking for safe spaces to come together. There is a need for this supportive environment where families can gather and program staff can help parents connect to local resources.

The Help

Designed for children through age five and their families and caregivers, FamilySpace provides safe and fun spaces for kids to play and learn, and for their families to come together to share information and hear about helpful, free services that are available to them.

FamilySpace is a preventative, place-based strategy for Cuyahoga County families with children ages birth through five, funded through a generous investment from Cuyahoga County’s Invest in Children and United Way of Greater Cleveland. The program is run in partnership with Cuyahoga County Public Libraries, Cleveland Public Libraries, and Family Connections.


In 2022, four inaugural FamilySpace locations opened in libraries in Garfield Heights, South Euclid/Lyndhurst, Carnegie West, and Hough. And since then, over 1,000 adults and nearly 1,400 children have attended FamilySpace sessions.

Each FamilySpace location consists of these core components:

  • Family-friendly spaces, materials, and activities designed to meet the needs of families

  • Onsite trained professional staff, during program hours

  • Referrals to services and resources such as job training, early childhood mental health services, and more

  • A neighborhood-based Family Advisory Committee that guides the programming to meet family interests and needs

FamilySpace on WKYC

Watch a segment from WKYC’s FRONTROW about the FamilySpace program.

FamilySpace Locations:

Garfield Heights Branch
Cuyahoga County Library

5409 Turney Rd.,
Garfield Heights, OH 44125
Tuesdays: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Wednesdays: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
216-475-8178

Branch Details

South Euclid-Lyndhurst Branch
Cuyahoga County Library

1876 South Green Road, 
South Euclid, OH 44121
Wednesdays: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Thursdays: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
216-382-4880

Branch Details

Carnegie West Branch
Cleveland Public Library

1900 Fulton Rd,
Cleveland, OH 44113
Mondays: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Tuesdays: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Wednesdays: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Thursdays 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
216-623-6927

Check Schedule Here

Hough Branch
Cleveland Public Library

6530 Lexington Ave.,
Cleveland, OH 44103
Mondays: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesdays: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Wednesdays: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Thursdays: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
216-623-6927

Check Schedule Here

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