Healthy and Fair Start

In-home Parenting and Child Development Education
Parenting and Childcare Provider classes
Family Literacy

The Healthy and Fair Start Program parent educators work side by side with families by teaching parenting skills, child development, home safety, nutrition, and providing family support and counseling.

HFS works to prevent child abuse and neglect and prepare children for success in school.

In-home Parenting and Child Development Education*

ABC home parent educators asses the family's needs and work with the family to set goals for developmental growth. HFS staff makes weekly home visits to the family, and work side by side with the parents teaching them to sit on the floor and play with their children to encourage early learning. Parent educators teach parents how to introduce books and picture books with babies, teaching to share toys and take turns, using positive discipline and reward good behavior, teaching effective communication (both parents and children).

"My child has difficulty speaking and the teacher helps. After only four months, my child speaks. My child used to pull my hair and was always pulling on me when he couldn't speak; he was frustrated. Now he says whatever he wants."

*Eligibility for in-home services: Families of Children from birth to 5 years of age. Priorities given to families living within our service area (78702,21,23,41,44), but others may apply.

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Parenting and Childcare Provider Classes | Schedule

Parents and caretakers gain confidence in working with their child, learn effective parenting skills, and experience less stress, resulting in a reduction in child abuse and neglect.

These classes provide parents and care takers with basic, essential information for parenting children from birth to 12 including topics such as Helping Children Behave Well, Handling Behavior Problems, Self-Esteem, Dealing with Stress, Proactive Fathering, Roadblocks to Communication , and When Violence Begins at Home . Free childcare provided.

“These classes have given me a new perspective on parenting and have given me alternatives to previous choices I've made. I'd recommend the classes to any parent.”

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Family Literacy | Schedule

This program provides informal learning for the whole family together "around the kitchen table" including reading and math skills, English as a second language, and basic computer skills.

Young children learn pre-literacy concepts, school-age children get help with homework, and adults learn English, reading or math skills, and learn to use the computer.

“I come here because my whole family can come at the same time and learn different things. For example, my children can learn on the computers. My husband and I can learn to read and write more.”

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Healthy and Fair Start Program is supported by the City of Austin, Travis County, and the United Way Capital Area. Additional funding is received from JP Morgan/Chase, Citigroup Foundation, Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division, Shoes for Austin, Reading Is Fundamental of Austin, Mills Dennis Foundation, Windgate Charitable Foundation, and Applied Materials.