Early Beginnings Services

Feel free to stop in and check out a variety of children's and parenting books along with educational videos at 339 South Johnson Street, Macomb.

Early Beginnings Prenatal program offers pregnancy and childbirth information for families in McDonough, Fulton and Hancock counties.

Topics that are covered:

• Anatomy of pregnancy
• Nutrition
• Healthy relationships
• Bonding
• Preparing your home for a baby

Information that is also discussed are:

• Preparing a birth plan,
• Understanding labor and what to expect during labor
• Using different positions during labor
• Learning and practicing breathing and relaxation exercises to help cope with labor
• Newborn care
• Breastfeeding
• Perinatal depression
• Swaddling and comforting your infant
• Infant massage

For more information, contact Tammy McIlhenny at 309-731-4419 or email: [email protected]

Infant sign language is a fun way to bond with your baby while helping to reduce frustration. Teaching infants signs to communicate their needs increases language development, enhances self esteem, and enriches your relationship with your baby. Infant sign language is made up of modified gestures from American Sign Language and gives babies a tool to communicate before they have the verbal skills to express themselves. If you have ever taught a baby to wave "bye bye" then you have what it takes to teach infant sign language!

For more information on this programs, contact Christine NIcholson at 309-731-4395 or email: [email protected]

Cooperative Parenting is an 8 week course to learn successful co-parenting skills. Each week the focus will be discovering ways to shield children from conflict, communicate effectively, and provide the stability, security, and close relationships that children need to thrive. Anyone involved in parenting a child with someone they are no longer in a relationship with could benefit from the tools taught in Cooperative Parenting. It is not necessary for both parents to attend but is definitely welcome. 

For more information on this programs, contact Christine NIcholson at 309-731-4395 or email: [email protected]

Families enrolled in Early Beginnings will develop an Individual Family Support Plan with their Parent Educator that supports their family goals. Families are given information on needed resources in their community. Early Beginnings has built a comprehensive, collaborative, and community-based partnerships that build on family strengths, support long-term self-sufficiency and impact real and long-lasting change.

Parent Educators partner with parents to track their child's development through regular development, health, vision and hearing screenings. If a concern arises, referrals are made to the appropriate agency for further evaluation.

Families receive ongoing information on parenting, child development and community events through newsletters, email and Facebook. Please "Like" our Early Beginnings/ROE #26 page and/or "Friend" our Parents as Teachers profile.

The Parents as Teachers approach to personal visits focuses on parent-child interaction, development-centered parenting and family well-being. The Parents as Teachers Model Implementation Training and Foundational Curriculum, together with the Parent Educator’s interpersonal and communication skills, bring a valuable service and support to families.

Families are given the opportunity to share experiences, discuss problems, learn from other parents, support one another, observe their child with other children, and practice parenting skills during monthly "Play to Learn" groups. In addition, child development information is shared and social connections between parents are fostered.

Early Beginnings has developed a transition plan with the Prekindergarten, Head Start and Preschool for All programs in the four counties served (McDonough, Hancock, and Fulton). Each early childhood program has given Early Beginnings their criteria for transitioning three year olds into their program. Early Beginnings has also developed a transitional activity packet for families to help prepare their child for the next step in their educational journey.