Home-Based Program (In-Home Services)
Child Inc in-home educational services are designed to serve the stay-at-home parent or mothers-to-be and the family. The purpose of the program is to support parents as they take on the role of the child’s first teacher.
A qualified teacher will visit both parent and child (in the home) on a weekly basis for 90 minutes. Home educators provide parents with information about child development and role-model educational activities that are designed to promote the ongoing development of the child. These developmental activities are designed to be effective but easy to construct and low in cost.
Both the Early Head Start and Head Start Home-Based Programs use a curriculum known as Creative Curriculum to support the social-emotional development and school readiness of the child. Creative Curriculum is research-based and appropriate for children ages birth to five years of age. The Early Head Start Program uses a supplemental curriculum, Partners for a Healthy Baby, which is designed to support pregnant mothers. The Head Start Home-Based Program uses a supplemental curriculum known as Scholastic Big Day which helps support the child’s school readiness and offers activities in language, literacy, math, cognition, social-emotional development, and physical development.
Parents of children in the home-based program participate in the ongoing assessment of their child by completing the Ages and Stages Questionnaire upon entry into the program.
Home educators use the Teaching Strategies Gold (TSG) assessment tool to assess each child’s development and share that information with parents three times a year: fall, winter, and spring during a home visit.
In addition, parents are offered the opportunity to attend two group socialization meetings each month to observe their children interacting with other children, socialize with other mothers, and participate in a parent education presentation. In addition, the home educator serves as a contact for additional comprehensive Head Start services, such as health, dental, nutrition, mental health and services for children with disabilities.
Child Inc Home-Based services are available to eligible families with children ages 0 – 3 (Early Head Start) and 3 – 5 (Head Start).
For more information, contact Child Inc at (512) 451-7361 or 1(800)-222-4051.
