Healthy Families & Early Head Start
Stress in today’s society can make it difficult for families to cope even under “good” circumstances. Add one or more problems such as poverty, isolation, unemployment, domestic violence or substance abuse to becoming a parent and pressures can become overwhelming. The Healthy Families and Early Head Start programs help relieve family tensions by providing comprehensive, helpful services to families for up to five years after a child is born (three years for EHS). Family support workers provide most services right in the family’s home. All services are voluntary and have a single goal -- to help new parents meet the challenges of parenting.
Services begin in the hospital or prenatal clinic, where new parents...
Get information about being parents
Hear about services in the community
Talk to program staff about their current situation and their own childhood
Are offered the services of a home visitor on a voluntary basis
Services continue in the home, with a Family Support Worker...
Helping the family meet its immediate needs, such as getting housing assistance, securing adequate and appropriate food, applying for health and social service programs, or handling a family crisis
Offering emotional support to help new parents cope with the stresses of parenting a newborn, especially stress that comes from lack of sleep or an infant's crying. Family support workers help promote attachment between parents and a new baby
Teaching basic child-rearing skills, such as how to make an infant feel secure, getting the baby on regular eating and sleeping schedules, and keeping young children safe indoors and out
Modeling positive parenting, such as effective, age-appropriate discipline
Linking families to medical providers to ensure that immunizations and well-care visits are on schedule
Healthy Families & Early Head Start build stronger families and stronger communities by...
Supporting and building on existing family strengths and resources
Involving socially isolated families in family, neighborhood, and community events
Collaborating with other community agencies serving families in order to utilize scarce resources and provide a comprehensive array of services
Healthy Families is funded in part by: Brown County Human Services, United Way, Family Preservation & Support, and Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect Grant, Accredited by: Healthy Families America
Early Head Start is funded by: CESA 7
