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The Healthy Start Program provides home-based services to expectant and new mothers in order to reduce the incidence of low birth weight and to improve health and developmental outcomes for babies. Healthy Start places a strong focus on the importance of early parent and child attachment. Families are also taught about health issues related to pregnancy or infant development. These services are provided by nurses, family counselors, social service coordinators, and Healthy Start educators.
Clients are usually referred to Healthy Start by their medical provider.
Topics covered by Healthy Start include:

» Prenatal and Infant Nutrition
» Breastfeeding
» Childbirth
» Infant Care
» Family Planning
» Stress Management
» Alcohol and Substance Abuse
» Smoking Cessation
» Parenting Techniques

To learn more about Healthy Start call (813) 673-4646

Face-to-face with the friendly voices and amusing antics of child-sized puppets, children listen, laugh and learn how to recognize child abuse and bullying. Kids on the Block
puppet shows are an excellent way to teach children how to stay safe.

The Child Abuse Prevention Program is presented to third-graders by extensively trained puppeteer educators to explain child abuse and neglect. Listening to the puppet characters’ age appropriate stories, students learn that abuse is never their fault and to use the “NO, GO and TELL” safety message.

The Bullies School Safety Program presented to fourth-graders creates an awareness of what constitutes bullying and encourages empathy for the victim. Respect of physical, developmental and cultural differences is also addressed. Students explore non-violent choices and skills to handle bullying and promote school safety.

At the presentations, children, their teachers and guidance counselors, watch an entertaining and educational 45-minute show. During “Question and Idea” time, students interact directly with the puppet characters and become actively engaged in problem-solving.
This highly successful program, part of a respected international organization, is the only interactive abuse and bullying prevention presentation available for school children in Hillsborough County.

To learn more about Kids on the Block call (813) 673-4646.

PAT is a child development program that uses the most current research to promote school readiness. It is based on the belief that the parent is the child’s first and most influential teacher. Parents are empowered to work directly with their children to help them develop to their fullest potential. There are no predetermined criteria or assessments
required to become a PAT family. It is an “any baby, any family” service.
The components of PAT are:

» In-home visitation by certified Parent Educators trained in child development who teach families according to the “Born to Learn” curriculum developed by the Washington University School of Medicine

» Parent group gatherings with other PAT families

» Screening of the overall health and development of the child, including vision and hearing

» Six-week-long developmental groups to help parents learn about their child’s physical, emotional and intellectual development

» Referrals to link families to additional services

The Child Abuse Council offers the PAT program county-wide to all parents under the “any baby, any family” philosophy and integrates PAT with other agencies and programs.

To learn more about PAT call (813) 356-1293.