Why Offer an Early Head Start Home-Based Program Option?
With increased understanding of the unparalleled role parents play in a child’s social development, academic success and emotional regulation, the countless benefits of offering families a home-Based Early Head Start Program option have become increasingly apparent. Reaching out to both mothers and fathers with infants and young children in their homes, clearly conveys the message that they are the ones who are ultimately responsible for nurturing, teaching and encouraging their children to succeed. Research has demonstrated that early, comprehensive home visiting programs significantly reduce child abuse and neglect rates, enhance parent-child relationships, strengthen families, and foster childhood health, developmental and educational outcomes. The most cost-effective way to teach essential parenting skills, to promote child health and school readiness, and to motivate parents to practice responsible, responsive mothering and fathering is to offer them services starting prenatally o
