Early Head Start

FINAL EHS Brochure.pdf

Early Head Start (EHS) is a year round free home visiting program serving infants and toddlers from birth to age three including pregnant women who are from families with incomes below the poverty guidelines.

Children from homeless families, and families receiving public assistance such as SNAP TANF or SSI are also eligible. Foster children are eligible regardless of their foster family’s income.

Find out if you are eligible! Fill out an initial application below, and a representative from our program will be in touch.

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Home Visits

Early Head Start families are supported by a 1 1/2 hours weekly home visit and bi-monthly 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 serves 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; 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 and Families

Family 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

· Family 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

Family 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

Family 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

To promote positive parent-child relationships, a Family Educator might:

· Bring helpful information / activities about bonding with your child