Family Support Services

In addition to the array of child development services that IHSD provides, the agency also provides a continuum of family support services, including:

• Family partnerships: Family services staff assists families to set goals towards achieving self-sufficiency and guides families through the process of accessing community resources.
• Community resource referrals: Staff links families to a variety of resources available throughout the community. Assistance is provided to ensure contact is made with the appropriate agency and services are received.
• Medical and dental home: Program staff helps families to access an ongoing source of medical and dental care for their children.
• Health exams and screenings: IHSD ensures that all children receive required health exams and screening, including vision and hearing screenings, prior to enrollment in our programs. Referrals for free/low-cost health and dental care are given to families, and opportunities for obtaining health insurance coverage are provided at each center throughout the year.
• Nutrition assessments: A registered dietician assesses how specified children’s nutritional needs are met. Families receive training regarding healthy menus and safe food preparation in the home.
• Annual health fairs: IHSD provides opportunities for families to be linked to available health resources in San Mateo County; parents and health care providers learn about required and recommended health examinations and screenings for Head Start and Early Head Start children; community agencies are invited to set up information tables and provide activities for parents and children.
• Priority enrollment for families currently receiving TANF: Families participating in TANF programs are automatically eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start, and are given priority in the enrollment process.
• Family literacy programs: Family literacy is promoted through ESL classes, training workshops, interagency agreements, and access to books through literacy vans, local libraries, and the Raising a Reader program; families are invited to participate in a wide range of literacy activities through out the program year.
• Parent training: IHSD staff coordinates training and information sessions for parents on topics ranging from understanding children’s development, to health and safety practices in the home, stress management, and accessing resources in the community.
• Parent involvement and leadership opportunities: Each child development center hosts a Parent Center Committee (PCC) which promotes parents as leaders in the Head Start program and in the community. Parent Center Committees develop program activities, make decisions about their individual sites, and share ideas, concerns and feedback about services.
• Special education services - IFSP/IEP: Children with disabilities are integrated into all programs and individualized plans are developed by the staff, in partnership with parents, to meet the special educational needs of these children.
• Training funds for ECE and computer skill classes: Limited program funds are provided to help subsidize the costs of ECE and computer skill classes that parents can take at local community colleges.
• Mental health: Mental health professionals are available to parents for consultation on an as needed basis; referrals may be made to local community agencies in order to access comprehensive, low-cost mental health services.
• Socializations: Early Head Start program staff facilitate playgroup-based experiences that promote parent-child and parent-parent interactions.