The Early Head Start (EHS) program offers support and services to expectant families. Services include prenatal education on fetal development (including risks from smoking and alcohol) labor and delivery, and postpartum recovery (including maternal depression); as well as breastfeeding education.  A healthy prenatal period is critical for giving a child the best possible start in life. Lack of prenatal care can result in health problems- low birth weight, premature delivery, birth defects, poor growth.  Furthermore, these babies are at an increased risk of learning, social, and behavioral problems. 

The EHS program provides personal home visits to discuss prenatal health, baby development, and preparations for baby’s arrival. Staff use Beginnings Guides and Born to Learn handouts which are colorful and easy to understand.  Curriculum topics give parents information they need when they need it because it follows the schedule of prenatal care visits to the doctor. Once the baby is born, program staff continue to provide home visits and parents can attend the parent-child playgroup at the EHS center. By supporting children and their parents at the earliest stage of parenthood, children are given the best start in life.