Early Head Start
Early Head Start is a program for parents and caregivers that offers free, comprehensive services consisting of high-quality early childhood development education, health and nutrition consultation services, and mental health and family support to pregnant women and families with children from birth to age four. Foothill Family will empower you to be a lifelong educator for your child and help them to enter school prepared and ready to learn. You are your child’s primary educator and strongest advocate. Learn how to be the best influence, supporter, and role model you can possibly be!
How can I enroll in Early Head Start?
To qualify, you must be pregnant or have a child up to four years old. Income restrictions apply and families must live in the following cities:
Alhambra, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, La Puente, Pomona, Rosemead, South El Monte or West Covina
For more information about Foothill Family Early Head Start, please call (626) 993-3050.
Early Head Start Programs
Home-Based Services
From the comfort and familiarity of your own home, Foothill Family’s Early Head Start program includes weekly in-home visits with a trained Home Visitor using a research-based curriculum to support and enhance your child’s development and includes:
- Group socializations twice a month focused on parent-child interaction, peer interactions, and connections with other families
- Ongoing assessment of children’s developmental growth and readiness for school
- Development and behavioral screenings for children and referral to special services for any suspected developmental delays and/or disabilities
- Parent leadership opportunities to participate in program decisions and design
- Consultations with a Registered Nurse or Dietitian about children’s health and nutrition needs
- Referrals to resources such as health care, social services, job training, housing, and food assistance
- Transition planning to enter Head Start or other preschool programs
- Parent workshops on topics based on family needs
- Consultation and referral to Foothill Family’s zero to five mental health services
(Transportation assistance may be offered to families for program activities based on need.)
Child Care Partnership
Combining the strengths of child care and Early Head Start (EHS) programs, the Early Head Start Child Care Partnership integrates EHS comprehensive services and resources into traditional child care and family care settings, including:
- Quality infant/toddler child care at local family child care centers and homes
- Ongoing assessment of child’s developmental growth and school readiness
- Developmental and behavioral screenings for children
- Parent leadership opportunities to engage participants in program decisions and design
- Consultations with a registered nurse or dietitian about child’s health and nutrition needs
- Referrals to resources such as health care, social services, job training, housing, and food assistance
- Transition planning to enter Head Start or other preschool programs
- Parent workshops on topics based on family needs
Services for Pregnant Women
- Convenient home visits with a home visitor trained in a research-based curriculum for pregnant women and their families
- Support for the entire family throughout pregnancy, labor, and delivery
- Prenatal health, nutrition, and post-partum screenings as appropriate
- Prenatal and breastfeeding education
- Preparation of fathers for fatherhood during home visits and connections with other fathers in the program
- Home visits from the Early Head Start health staff within the first two weeks of birth to monitor the health of newborn and mother
- Referrals to OB/GYN doctors, insurance, mental health, and other community resources
- Consultations with a Registered Nurse or Dietitian about high-risk health and nutrition needs
- Guaranteed enrollment of your baby into the Early Head Start program after birth
(Transportation assistance may be offered to families for program activities based on need.)
Early Head Start Supports Children With Disabilities
Early Head Start is committed to serving children with disabilities and identifying children with suspected disabilities as early as possible. The Early Head Start program connects families and their children to needed services as soon as challenges are identified. The earlier children receive the help they need, the better the outcome later in life and in school.
For more information about Foothill Family Early Head Start, please call (626) 993-3050.
Foothill Family builds brighter futures
by empowering children and families in our community to overcome challenges and achieve success in relationships, school, and work.
Rooted in caring since 1926, Foothill Family provides a broad range of community-based mental health and social services to under-served children and families in the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys, Glendale, and Burbank.