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.
- Illinois Contraceptive Access Now (ICAN!) is a statewide initiative to make birth control easier to get in Illinois—because we believe that everyone should have the freedom to do what they want with their own body. No matter where they live, how they identify, or how much money they make. We believe in a simple truth: that reproductive freedom is for everyone.
- Connecting Communities to Birth Control: 15 minute video on how home visitors can screen and connect a client to birth control care.
- Client referral form: Connect your client to an ICAN! health center providing free-or-low-cost birth control. Telehealth appts available.
- Birth control options: This page includes a birth control 1-pager in EN/SP, a postpartum birth control 1-pager, and a birth control quiz.
- HFS Family Planning Program: Very few people knew about this new Medicaid program, including that it provides temporary coverage open to undocumented people or that clients who roll off of Medicaid for Moms and Babies can qualify!
- 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.
