------ -------

Parents have the greatest influence on a child's life. We're convinced it makes sense to promote healthy child development - for the future of our children, and our community. Delaying positive intervention may mean negative results - often that may include foster care, special education, or the juvenile justice system.

Vermilion County,Illinois, like most communities, struggles with the impact of child abuse/neglect cases. As a community, we continue to search for ways in which to solve the overwhelming problems of child abuse/neglect, which include school failure, truancy, substance abuse, and too often, the criminal justice system. There can be little argument that one of the best defenses against child abuse/neglect is healthy families.

H F I proactively seeks to help parents develop their skills, create a family support system, build and strengthen the bonds between parent and child, and learn ways to solve problems without violence. As part of the voluntary program, Family Support Workers visit participants' homes to proactively develop skill-building and parent-child bonds. We know the first five years of a child's life creates the patterns for future development. Healthy Families Illinois helps ensure those first five years are good ones.

Healthy Families Illinois serves at-risk, first time parents, or first time pregnant women, regardless or income. Screening assessments are done to determine eligibility. Healthy Families Illinois is a voluntary program that offers home visits for parent education and support. Call us at 217-431-2662 for more informationor you may contact Maternal and Child Health mch@vchd.org.

last updated 8-12-05

Home | Links |Comments

© Vermilion County Health Department 2001