Early Head Start (EHS) works to improve the health and development of infants and toddlers in St. Louis while helping their families achieve economic independence. In partnership with CDI Head Start, 24 infants and toddlers receive Early Head Start services at SSDN.

The goals of the EHS program are:

1. To promote the healthy development of children prenatally, at birth, and during the first three years of life. EHS achieves this by:
   
   
   • improving access to prenatal care in the first trimester
   • prenatal education and ongoing parent education
   • identifying children with special needs and obtaining the necessary services
   • making sure every family has access to a pediatrician, dentist and other necessary specialists
   • health screenings, including well baby checks; hearing; vision; dental; blood levels
   • ensuring that all children are up to date and current with immunizations
   • connecting families to mental health services



2. To assure quality options for child care through center- and home-based providers, and the continuity of support services for expectant families, and families with children under the age of three. EHS achieves this by:
   
   
   • ongoing monitoring of the child’s development, including developmental assessments
   • utilizing developmentally appropriate and individualized curriculum
   • working with community partners to deliver services each family needs
   • actively involving parents in the program at all levels
   • transition planning when the child is ready to move into a preschool setting

For more information on the Early Head Start program, contact Kathi Boyer-Edwards, Interim Early Head Start Director, kedwards@ssdn.org.

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