Early Head Start Program (EHS) Home-Based Services

Who Is Eligible? Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS) Early Head Start (EHS) Home-based Program is a relationship and strength based Home Based Early Intervention and Prevention program for low-income at-risk families with children ages zero to three who:

• Live with their parents that have current or have had past contact with the child abuse system
• Are pregnant women, including adolescents, especially pregnant teens in the foster care system
• Are abused or neglected children living in or transitioning home from foster care or kinship care
• Are homeless
• Have a physical or mental disability

Program Services and Support. The CHS EHS program is a voluntary, home-based, intensive, comprehensive and flexible Partnering with Parent program designed to meet Head Start Standards through the following program components:

• The overall CHS EHS program structure will engage and support families to fully participate in the parenting process and plan for self-sufficiency through culturally sensitive weekly home visitations and twice-monthly group socializations.
• The CHS EHS program curriculum, “Partners for a Healthy Baby”, is an English and Spanish language practice-informed, individualized and developmentally centered five volume series from prenatal to thirty-six months that will address Head Start Standards through its topics, purposes and activities.
• Linking with comprehensive Health Services will include well child visits, preventive and primary care and follow up that ensures nutrition, dental and mental health concerns that will be identified and addressed.

• Education and support services for expectant families will be provided before, during and after pregnancy.
• Family and child transitions will be organized around current and anticipated family need, health, education, activities, and follow up.
• Translation services and bi-lingual staff will be available in county service areas where English is not participants’ home language.

Through the CHS EHS program, every participating family will receive weekly year round – 90 minute home visits by a program home visitor, in addition to participating in a two-hour group Socialization experience twice a month, and being offered additional enrichment experiences such as Doula services and participation in a Father's Support Group.

For more information:

Children’s Home Society

1485 S. Semoran Blvd., Suite 1402

Winter Park, FL 32792

Phone: (321) 397-3000

Fax: (321) 397-0090

Email: jan.harkness@chsfl.org