EHS Serves Pregnant Women

Early Head Start has the privilege of experiencing the growth of baby and family from prenatal to birth with its service to pregnant women.

Home visitors from LCCAA Early Head Start provide information and education to women and their partners on many topics, including: fetal development; proper nutrition; the risks of alcohol, drugs and smoking; labor and delivery; postpartum depression; and the benefits of breastfeeding.

LCCAA uses the Growing Great Kids/Growing Great Families curriculum to support our Early Head Start families. GGK is an attachment focused curriculum which provides families with a recipe for raising a child who feels safe, secure, loved and curious. The six ingredients for this recipe come in the form of the Daily Dude, which - when implemented by the pregnant mom each day - will begin the attachment process between mother and child even before birth (Brain Builders, Character Buildings, Play and Learning, Body Builders, Two-Way Talk, Steps to Success).

Pregnant women receive weekly visits (currently virtual) including abundant materials and resources. They are connected to medical and dental practices when needed to ensure they receive their prenatal visits as well as dental care during the pregnancy.

Home visitors also provide referrals to other community agencies when needed to help moms obtain necessary items such as cribs and car seats.

In some cases, the home visitor is the only support that the pregnant woman has in her life. Home visitors have served as interpreters, been at the hospital during the birth and even in a few circumstances have cut the umbilical cord!

Once the baby is born the family receives a newborn visit from LCCAA’s contracted nurse, who does a thorough health check of the baby and completes the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale with the mom. The home visitor and the nurse will then complete any necessary referrals.

The home visitor can also assist the family in transitioning their child into the Early Head Start program. In many cases, children are served from before they are born all the way to kindergarten, because Head Start Works!