FiveCAP’s Early Head Start helps families teach their infants and toddlers
Making the most of the early years in a child’s life is a challenge that many parents feel pressured to meet. With research reinforcing the rapid development of a child’s cognitive skills between the ages of 0 and 3, fitting as many positive learning experiences into these years can be overwhelming.
First-time parents and veterans alike find these pressures increase when added to the stress of living in poverty and trying to make ends meet.
FiveCAP Early Head Start provides a support structure to these families during the incredibly formative years before preschool by partnering parents with Specialists who perform 90-minute home visits weekly and facilitate socialization events twice a month.
During the home visits, the Specialists work with parents, encouraging them to embrace their role as their child’s first teacher. Together, they develop lesson plans and work toward goals, both for the child and the family as a whole. Each plan is specifically tailored to the individual child.
“No two children learn at the same rate,” said FiveCAP Early Head Start Assistant Director of Education/Training Joan Meeusen. “Even twins are processing things in different ways. Through home visits, our specialists are able to get to know the individual needs of each child and help customize the experience for them.
“They are also able to then guide the parents, helping them learn how to bring about moments of growth. During these years, every experience produces an opportunity. While taking walks together, parents can discuss colors and shapes with their kids. Setting the table for dinner is a practice in patterning.
Early Head Start is open to families, beginning in the second trimester of pregnancy. Before the baby is born, EHS Specialists work with the family to prepare for the child’s birth, helping to inform the family of practices that will assure the baby is born in good health. Once the child is born, the Specialist helps the family keep track of necessary doctor visits, scheduled immunizations and other important infant wellness needs.
Access to dental care is also available through a partnership between FiveCAP and Baldwin Family Health Care, with a mobile dental unit treating children at Socialization events every six months.
Family goals are also at the forefront of the program, with Specialists helping parents work toward self-sufficiency.
Once an Early Head Start child reaches 2 1/2, the Specialists begin working on “Mission Transition,” a program that helps prepare students and their families for preschool. Most Early Head Start children transition to Head Start preschools, so introducing the kids to the classrooms and teachers they will be spending time with once they turn 3 is an important part of the process.
Families qualify for Early Head Start if their household income is at or below the federal poverty level. For a two-person household, this is $15,730 annually and increases by $4,060 for each additional person residing in the home.
For more information on the program, contact FiveCAP at (231) 757-3785