Professional Development

Start Early (Formerly the Ounce of Prevention) is the recognized training provider for all home visitors in the following programs in Illinois: Healthy Families America; Parents Too Soon; and Parents as Teachers.

Other professional development resources for home visitors include the following:

Department of Children and Family Services Training offers a variety of online training’s, including mandated reporter training.

Futures without Violence works with home visiting programs to provide domestic violence and child abuse training and education.

Gateways to Opportunity is a statewide professional development support system designed to provide guidance, encouragement, and recognition to individuals and programs serving children, youth, and families.

Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) is a not for profit, membership organization that works to eliminate violence against women and their children.

Illinois Resource Center (IRC) provides assistance to teachers and administrators serving linguistically and culturally diverse students.

Mothers and Babies at Northwestern University is a program that promotes healthy mood, bonding with one’s baby, and strategies for pregnant women and new moms to cope with stress in their lives.

Prevent Child Abuse Illinois (PCA Illinois) provides key leadership for child abuse prevention in Illinois.

STARnet Northwest Region I and Central Region III provide a variety of opportunities for personal and professional growth for those who touch the lives of young children, ages birth through eight, with an emphasis on children with special needs. STARnet supports family-centered, researched and effective practices in early childhood education and care.

The Institute for the Advancement of Family Support Professionals offers Family Support Professionals everywhere the opportunity to learn new skills and grow their careers. Through engaging, online modules and a personalized learning map feature, professionals take charge of their growth and advancement.

4P’s Plus© is the only validated screening instrument specifically designed to quickly identify obstetrical patients at risk for use of tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drugs.

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under Grant Number X10MC43579 and Grant Number X10MC39684 in the total award amounts of $8,473,513 and $8,257,262, respectively, for the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, and 0% financed with nongovernmental sources. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the United States Government.