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Learn more about Healthy Parents & Babies’ Early Head Start Program and Services.

About Our Program

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See if You Qualify

Review our eligibility guidelines to confirm you qualify for our program.

Check Your Eligibility

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Enroll Now

To start the enrollment process, complete this initial eligibility form.

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Healthy Parents & Babies Program Details

Services to Pregnant People

Healthy Parents & Babies pairs pregnant people with doulas who provide information and support during pregnancy, birth and the first few weeks of life.

Our doulas help you:

  • Develop healthy prenatal routines, relaying advice on nutrition, health and wellness tips, resources and more.
  • Prepare for a successful pregnancy, labor and delivery by creating a birth plan, explaining what to expect when in labor and delivery, and sharing pain management options.
  • Establish strong bonds between you and your baby by providing breast/chest feeding support, bonding tips and resources.

Once your baby is born, you will have an option to enroll in our home visiting program*. If you enroll, an assigned home visitor will help your new family continue building a strong relationship, providing information and coaching based on your family’s goals and needs.

*Please note, if you reside in Lake County, you will be referred to an Early Head Start program or another local home visiting program in your area.

Home Visits With Families

Home visitors from the Healthy Parents & Babies program help your family build a foundation for success through one-on-one home visits centered around your child’s development and growth. This approach provides a nurturing environment for your child’s academic, social and emotional skills, preparing them for kindergarten and beyond.

Our home visitors:

  • Provide weekly 90-minute home visits, at home or in your area, with customized lesson plans for your family.
  • Offer educational activities that help establish learning habits and encourage your child’s brain development.
  • Help with developing and maintaining healthy eating routines for your family.
  • Ensure your family is connected to necessary health services.

Community Resources

In addition to doula and home visiting services, Healthy Parents & Babies offers the following supplemental supports to families:

  • Prenatal groups, parent meetings and trainings
  • Events to socialize and interact with other children and parents
  • Literacy events
  • Male involvement groups
  • Limited transportation assistance
  • Services for children with diagnosed or suspected disabilities

Healthy Parents & Babies is an inclusive environment that helps families understand the requirements for Early Intervention in the Chicago Public Schools and the Lake County service area.

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Program Eligibility

We serve the greater Chicagoland and suburban families prenatally through birth for our doula services and up to age 3 for our home visiting services. You must be pregnant to qualify for doula services but can be of any age and at any stage of pregnancy. You can qualify for home visiting services anytime after your baby is born until they turn 3 years old. Participation is not limited to first-time parents or new participants, but everyone must meet Early Head Start income eligibility guidelines.

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Healthy Parents & Babies Application Form

Thank you for your interest in enrolling in our Healthy Parents & Babies program, in Illinois.

We serve families prenatally through birth, and up to age 3 for their children. To get started in the enrollment process, please complete this initial application form and someone from our team will be in touch with you within 48 business hours. Once you submit your application, you will be redirected to a confirmation page with an “OK” button. Please click the “OK” button to continue to onto critical information about the enrollment process, contact details and documents you will need to collect to complete your enrollment process.

Note: Participation is not limited to first-time parents or new participants, but everyone must meet Early Head Start income eligibility guidelines in order to qualify.

Go to Form

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Start Early Programs

Learn more about our early learning programs in Illinois that support each aspect of your child’s development—starting before birth to age 5.

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Enroll Now

To start the enrollment process, please complete this initial eligibility form.

Apply Now

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Resources for Families

Discover educational activities and resources from Start Early experts to provide easy and engaging education experiences with your child.

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Take the next step

Please review the below options to learn more about our Head Start and Early Head Start agencies and services, to check if you qualify and to enroll your child.

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Learn More

Learn more about our Head Start and Early Head Start services and see our full list of agencies.

About Our Agencies

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See if You Qualify

Review our eligibility guidelines to confirm you qualify for our services.

View Eligibility Guidelines

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Enroll Now

Complete our online application inquiry form to start your enrollment process.

Go to Form

About Our Head Start and Early Head Start Agencies

Our Head Start and Early Head Start agencies offer:

  • Social and emotional learning: This type of learning helps children understand and manage their feelings. Our programs use social and emotional learning to create a safe and caring environment that supports teamwork and social skills.
  • Family support services: Our team members help families find medical and dental care, keep health records up to date, set parent-child goals, and provide other important resources and referrals.
  • Diverse learner assistance and support: If your child has different learning needs and you want extra services, we help you understand the Early Intervention eligibility and coordinate services through your local school district.
  • Leadership opportunities: Parents can get involved in leadership roles in our agency and network committees and councils.

Our Community-Based Agencies

Start Early, a federal Head Start grantee, manages or partners with agencies in Chicago, Suburban Cook County, and Lake County to provide quality early learning and care. See all our current agencies that are part of our network.

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Academy for Global Citizenship

Service Areas: Chicago Southwest Side

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Casa Central Logo
Casa Central

Service Areas: Chicago West Side

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Brightpoint Logo
Brightpoint, Formerly Children's Home & Aid

Service Areas: Chicago South Side

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Children's Place Association logo
Children's Place Association

Service Areas: Chicago West Side

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Educare Chicago logo
Educare Chicago

Service Areas: Chicago South Side

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El Hogar Del Nino logo
El Hogar Del Niño

Service Areas: Chicago West Side

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Family Focus

Service Areas: Chicago South Side

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First Step logo
First Step

Service Areas: South Suburban Cook County

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Healthy Parents & Babies logo
Healthy Parents & Babies

Service Areas: Chicago South Side

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Lake County Early Learning Center

Service Areas: Northeast Lake County

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Marillac St. Vincent Family Services

Service Areas: Chicago North & West Side

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One Hope United logo
One Hope United

Service Areas: Chicago South Side, Waukegan Township

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SGA Youth & Family Services

Service Areas: Chicago South Side

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Trellus Logo
Trellus

Service Areas: Chicago North Side

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YMCA

Service Areas Chicago South, Southwest & West Side

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Eligibility

Income Requirements and Ages of Children Served

In order to qualify for our Head Start and Early Head Start services, you must meet the federal poverty guidelines and have a child, age five or younger, that you would like to enroll. You must be pregnant to qualify for doula services but can be of any age and at any stage of pregnancy. If your income is above the federal guidelines based on your family size, and/or your child is older than five years of age, you will not qualify for our programs.

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Head Start & Early Head Start Application Form

Please note that this is not an application for CPS or CEL programming.

Start Early partners with Head Start and Early Head Start agencies that deliver doula, home visiting and center-based programs in Chicago, Suburban Cook County and Lake County. We provide services for pregnant people and children prenatally through birth to age 5.

To get started in the enrollment process, please complete this initial contact form and someone will be in touch with you within 48 business hours. Once you submit your application, you will be redirected to a confirmation page with an “OK” button. Please click the “OK” button to continue to onto critical information about the enrollment process, contact details and documents you will need to collect to complete your enrollment process.

Note: Income is an eligibility requirement for our Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

Go to Form

Early learning programs icon

Start Early Programs

Learn more about our early learning programs in Illinois that support each aspect of your child’s development—starting before birth to age 5.

Learn More

Enroll your child icon

Enroll Now

To start enrollment, fill out this initial eligibility form. Once we receive your application, and if you qualify for services, we will connect you with an early learning program in your area.

Apply Now

Resources for families icon

Resources for Families

Discover educational activities and resources from Start Early experts to provide easy and engaging educational experiences with your child.

Learn More

Educare Chicago was founded by Start Early in 2000 as an innovative early learning program serving infants, toddlers, preschoolers and their families on Chicago’s South Side.

Educare pairs the latest research with intensive family engagement to promote school readiness and help families work towards their goals. A pioneer and innovator in early childhood education from the very beginning, Educare Chicago has inspired the development of the Educare Learning Network, a nationwide network of birth-to-age 5 schools.

Visit EducareChicago.org

Children and families can expect:

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Comprehensive Head Start & Early Head Start Programs

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Stimulating Learning Environments

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Mother and son at Educare school
Family Support Services & Access to Resources

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Early learning programs icon

Start Early Programs

Learn more about our early learning programs that support each aspect of your child’s development—starting before birth to age 5.

Learn More

Enroll your child icon

Enroll your Child

Join the Educare family and give your child the best start from birth. Visit EducareChicago.org.

Visit EducareChicago.org

Resources for families icon

Resources for Families

Discover educational activities and resources from Start Early experts to provide easy and engaging education experiences with your child.

Learn More