Early Head Start
Early Head Start is a home based program which helps parents be the first and best influence on their children.
Early Head Start is a year round and comprehensive early childhood development home visiting program that is designed to reinforce and respond to the needs of individual infants and toddlers along with their families.
Early Head Start Families are supported by an 1 1/2 hours weekly home visit and bi-weekly group socialization. EHS strives to promote healthy prenatal outcomes for pregnant women, enhance the development of very young children ages 0-3 years, and support healthy family functioning.
Early Head Start Family Educators and parents choose a topic or activity to work on each week. The family educator shows the parent what to do and the parent teaches it to the child. One goal of a family educator is to help each parent be the best teacher in their child's life.
Family educators can link a family to other agencies for basic needs like utilities and food, job training, child care for working parents, and a number of other concerns.
The Health Specialist, a registered nurse, visits the home from time to time. The Health Specialist helps families to find medical and dental care and makes sure infants and toddlers are receiving their immunizations on a regular basis.
The Health Specialist servers as a resource to parents on special topics such as nutrition, safety, infant and toddler health, as well as, mental wellness for the whole family.
Home visits focus on the following areas of school readiness:
PARENT-CHILD ATTACHMENT
To promote positive parent-child relationships, a Parent Educator might:
Bring helpful information / activities about bonding with your child
Model ways to interact with children-for example; assisting you in reading with your child
Model talking with your child-for example; describing what your child is doing: “You stacked four blocks. Great!”
Assist you in observing your child’s strengths and give you tips for developing them
Connect families with one or more of our Certified Educators of Infant Massage
SERVICES TO EXPECTANT MOTHERS & FAMILIES
Parent Educators and our EHS staff can also perform home visits or assist in providing support/transportation to prenatal visits. Services include:
Education on fetal development
Education on nutrition and breastfeeding
Assistance in preparing siblings for baby’s arrival
Assistance in preparing a birthing plan
Education on the effects of smoking, alcohol, and drug use during pregnancy
Assistance in identifying emotional supports and education on postpartum depression and anxiety
Home visit by a licensed nurse within 14 days of birth
CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Parent Educators can talk about:
What is typical for a child’s age
What to expect next in your child’s development
Preparing for preschool
Positive discipline strategies
Common childhood issues like sleeping or toilet training
CHILD HEALTH AND SAFETY
Parent Educators will provide information about the following:
The importance-of well-baby check-ups, immunizations, and early oral health care
Recognizing a baby’s cues, such as knowing when your baby is hungry
Proper childhood nutrition, including breastfeeding support
Ways to childproof your home
PARENT SUPPORT
Parent Educators or other EHS staff may assist parents in setting goals such as:
Job search or education goals
Stress management and coping with problems
Budgeting
Transportation to Playtimes or Medical appointments
PARENT-CHILD ATTACHMENT
To promote positive parent-child relationships, a Parent Educator might:
Bring helpful information / activities about bonding with your child
Model ways to interact with children-for example; assisting you in reading with your child
Model talking with your child-for example; describing what your child is doing: “You stacked four blocks. Great!”
Assist you in observing your child’s strengths and give you tips for developing them
Connect families with one or more of our Certified Educators of Infant Massage
SERVICES TO EXPECTANT MOTHERS & FAMILIES
Parent Educators and our EHS staff can also perform home visits or assist in providing support/transportation to prenatal visits. Services include:
Education on fetal development
Education on nutrition and breastfeeding
Assistance in preparing siblings for baby’s arrival
Assistance in preparing a birthing plan
Education on the effects of smoking, alcohol, and drug use during pregnancy
Assistance in identifying emotional supports and education on postpartum depression and anxiety
Home visit by a licensed nurse within 14 days of birth
CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Parent Educators can talk about:
What is typical for a child’s age
What to expect next in your child’s development
Preparing for preschool
Positive discipline strategies
Common childhood issues like sleeping or toilet training
CHILD HEALTH AND SAFETY
Parent Educators will provide information about the following:
The importance-of well-baby check-ups, immunizations, and early oral health care
Recognizing a baby’s cues, such as knowing when your baby is hungry
Proper childhood nutrition, including breastfeeding support
Ways to childproof your home
PARENT SUPPORT
Parent Educators or other EHS staff may assist parents in setting goals such as:
Job search or education goals
Stress management and coping with problems
Budgeting
Transportation to Playtimes or Medical appointments
What are parents saying about the program?
"The biggest reason I enjoy the Head Start program is because of the involvement parents are encouraged to have with their children and the rest of the children while in school. I spend around 2 hours everyday in Kathy's classroom and EVERYDAY I leave with a smile on my face."
"I LOVE how compassionate, hands on, and caring both her an Heather are with each child's individual needs and personality. I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to be introduced to this program and ALL of the people who are involved in it."