Assisting Pregnant Moms and Infants
The First Step Early Head Start program is a no cost, federally funded, home-based program for expectant mothers and for children birth to 3 years old in Clinton County and Washington County. The program has 54 funded slots.
The program offers:
- a no-cost program in which family income is used as one criteria for eligibility.
- weekly home visits by a qualified parent educator. Home visits are 90 minutes in length.
- playgroups and activities for the entire family.
- curriculum and activities to support child learning and development in the first three years of life.
- assistance and resources for children with disabilities.
- help linking families to community resources.
- bilingual services.
- transportation for enrolled participants to appointments (doctor, dentist, WIC, etc.) and to playgroups and parent trainings.
- age-appropriate, research-based curriculums, such as Parents as Teachers and Partners for a Healthy Baby.
- parents the skills and encouragement to learn how to be their child’s first and life-long teacher.
Prenatal Services
- EHS will assist women to access comprehensive prenatal and postpartum care and educate them about proper health and nutrition.
- Staff members will encourage parents to keep prenatal appointments, including medical and dental examinations.
- Mental health interventions and follow-up, as well as substance abuse prevention and treatment will be encouraged, when necessary.
- Prenatal education on fetal development, labor and delivery, and postpartum recovery will be provided.
For more information about EHS, please contact Tabitha at TabithaI@commlink.org or (618) 526-3969.