Healthy and Fair Start

In-home Parenting and Child Development Education

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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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, Mills Dennis Foundation, Windgate Charitable Foundation, and Applied Materials.