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Early Head Start

Riverbend Head Start and Family Services’ Early Head Start Home-Based program is designed to provide comprehensive services for pregnant women, infants and toddlers by supporting the development of the whole child and family.

Our Early Head Start Home Based program provides in-home visits for 90 minutes weekly. They are facilitated by our Family Advocates in order to promote positive nurturing, and responsive and effective interactions between parents and their children. In addition to our home-based services, Family Advocates also host Learn and Plays two times per month for the families they serve.

Family Advocates are a vital link between families and the various Head Start sites. In addition to in-home
visits, they collaborate with teaching teams to
bridge the communication between home and school, Learn and Play groups and parent
meetings. Family Advocates support the overall well-being of the family by providing resource
information and incorporating goal setting with them.   

Parents who are participating in the Early Head Start program will experience the following:

  • Growing Great Kid’s Curriculum**
  • Growing Great Families Curriculum
  • Dental education
  • Hand washing education
  • Parent education
  • Disability services
  • Transportation support
  • Monthly health, nutrition, prevention, and safety education
  • Monthly Parent meetings
  • Evening themed events
  • Fieldtrips with children
  • Teachable experiences
 
**The primary focus of the Growing Great Kid’s (GGK) Curriculum relies on fostering the growth of secure attachment relationships and developmentally enriched, empathetic parenting that supports families to reduce their stress and build protective buffers for their children. To learn more, please visit their website: https://www.greatkidsinc.org/.

We're Here To Help

Our mission is to empower children and families to develop positive skills to meet life's challenges.

"Our experience with Head Start has been phenomenal. They have made us feel welcome and comfortable. They have also provided us with much-needed clothing items and resources."
-Foster Parent
"Thank you so much for your generous food donation to the Crisis Food Center. The items you sent us will help so much in our mission to supply healthy foods to our clients. We truly appreciate your efforts."
-Board & StaffCrisis Food Center
"AMAZING!!! I have one child that's center based and one that's about to be home based. All the staff is wonderful with the children and my daughter has so much fun. She loves to tell me what they did that day. I love to see her love school."
Alicia C.
"I think this is an absolutely wonderful program with an excellent curriculum and staff at the GC South location! I'm a very proud supporter and I'm happy to also be a part of it as a parent. I love the meetings we have and wish more parents could make it to them. As a whole, I believe we can make our children just as proud of us as we are of them. It's truly ALL about the betterment of our children and their education!"
Scott H.
"My greatest regret is not getting involved earlier with Riverbend."
Andrea
“I was overjoyed when I saw the bright smiles on the faces of the children at Riverbend Head Start. They do such a great job of helping to educate children and motivating parents so they no longer live in poverty. I just can't imagine a child so young experiencing the struggles they deal with, but I'm happy they have Riverbend Head Start to help.”
Shirley E.
“My children will have their best chance at success because of Riverbend Head Start.”
Megan C.
“As a single father of twin toddlers, Riverbend Head Start fills the gap of their mother. I’m grateful I chose Riverbend Head Start for early childhood education.”
William K.
“I am forever grateful to Riverbend Head Start for empowering me to be the very best advocate for my child not only now, but for the rest of my life."
Robert J.
“Riverbend Head Start has played a major role in helping me to better understand my child’s needs, and recognizing where she is, and where she should developmentally. So, when you ask, what does Head Start mean to me? Well, it means EVERYTHING!”
Lisa W.

Riverbend Head Start & Family Services
550 Landmarks Blvd., 3rd Fl.Alton, IL 62002
P: 618-463-5946

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This website is supported by Grant Number 05CH011888 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of Riverbend Head Start & Family Services and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Head Start.

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