Early Beginnings Questions

Early Beginnings conduct basic hearing and vision screenings that consists of an observational checklist and depends greatly on parent report. A photo screener is also available to conduct non-diagnostic vision testing and staff use the Ero-Scan screener to conduct OAE screening (innerear screening). As with developmental screenings, if a concern is noted, Early Beginnings staff will make the appropriate referral. 

Early Beginnings is a part of the Early Childhood Block Grant funding through the Illinois State Board of Education as a prevention initiative program. Early Beginnings applies each year to maintain funding.

Early Beginnings supports families and their children birth to age three who are at-risk for developmental delay that could lead to future academic failure. Contributing factors of being at-risk include but are not limited to: low income, teen parent, single parent with little support, children being premature at birth, or low education level of care giver. Child and Family Connections serve families and children under the age of three who are experiencing delays in development 30% or greater or have been diagnosed with medical conditions which involve a high probability of developmental delay.

Parent Educators at Early Beginnings provide developmental activities, education, and resources for parents and caregivers through home based visits and center programs. They track developmental milestones of children birth to age three and encourage families to get involved in their children’s development.

Parent Educators at Early Beginnings are certified to use the Parent as Teachers model for program services and the Parents as Teachers Foundational research-based curriculum. Parent Educators’ approach to personal visits focus on parent-child interaction, development-centered parenting and family well-being.  

Certified Parent Educators provide child development and parenting education for those expecting and families with children birth to three through personal visits and group programs. Additional services include book/video lending library, childbirth education, community linkage through a resource network, case management through an Individual Family Support Plan, monitoring of the child’s development through developmental, hearing and vision screening, educational newsletters, family events, parent-child activities, parenting support groups, and preschool transition.