Introduction
Welcome Newsletter (English).MSpub XP.
Welcome Newsletter (Spanish).MSpub XP.
Welcome Newsletter (English).MSpub 98.
Welcome Newsletter (Spanish).MSpub 98.
Mission Statement
Job Descriptions
Main Page
The Family Enrichment Program is a Birth to Three Prevention Initiative Program funded by the Illinois State Board of Education. The Family Enrichment Program is one of four original pilot projects first funded in 1988 to provide services to communities with high infant mortality rates. The ECHO Cooperative is the fiscal agent of the grant. ECHO is a Special Education Cooperative, which serves 17 school districts in South Cook County, Illinois.
The goal of the Family Enrichment Program is prevention of school failure through working with at risk infants and toddlers and their parents on the importance of establishing the foundations for learning early in life. Currently the project provides services to 250 infants and toddlers and their families each year The services provided by the Family Enrichment Program include playgroups for infants and toddlers, parent education groups, parent support groups, wellness groups, dads' groups, home visits, and family field trips. Developmental screenings are provided to all children and referrals to the early intervention system are made as needed. In addition, the program provides preschool transition, community advocacy, and linkages to adult education classes.
A transdisciplinary staff composed of a variety of different disciplines provides 18 groups a week at two different sites in both English and Spanish. The team includes child development specialists, family support specialists, childcare staff, foster grandparents, father facilitators, a nurse, social worker, speech/language therapist, occupation therapist, secretarial staff, program supervisor and a van driver. The Family Enrichment Program Welcome Newsletter describes the program for parents. The newsletter is written in both English and Spanish and serves as the parent handbook
