Healthy Families Illinois
About Healthy Families Illinois (HFI)
Healthy Families Illinois (HFI) is a program nationally affiliated with Healthy Families America
which promotes positive parenting and child health and development, thereby preventing child abuse and
other poor childhood outcomes. HFI services are offered to families on a voluntary basis and target first-time
parents or those facing the greatest challenges. Trained family support workers spend time with expectant or new
parents in their homes talking about their hopes and concerns surrounding parenthood, and bring with them a wealth
of knowledge and educational tools. Home visits can last up to five years and focus on parenting skills,
child development, child health, and other aspects of family functioning.
HFI targets new parents because they are often eager to absorb information about their babies and because the
first years of a child's life are the most critical in terms of brain development and parental bonding. We focus
on prevention of child abuse and neglect before negative patterns of behavior can be established. Prevention of
child abuse and neglect is possible and preferable to treating the effects of child maltreatment. The U.S. Advisory
Board on Child and Abuse and Neglect states, "There's a lot to do to address this problem (of child abuse and neglect),
but if you could only do one thing focus on prevention with new parents." At HFI we believe in our young mothers and
their abilities as parents and look for ways to empower them through education and support.
Eligibility Requirements
Healthy Families services are offered free of charge to all Will County residents who become parents between the
ages of 12 and 19. Clients may enter the program during the third trimester of their pregnancy or after delivery
until the baby is one month old.
Services Provided
Home Visiting
Home visiting is the main component of HFI's program. After an initial needs assessment is given to a client she
is placed with a caring and committed Family Support Worker who provides home-based support and education as she
transitions into motherhood. Your Family Support Worker will become someone you can count on. She will listen to
your concerns and help provide information on childhood growth and development or other needs you may have.
A Family Support Worker will help you set goals and encourage you as you work to meet them for yourself and your baby.
Family Support Workers can take you to doctor's appointments, give you more information about community resources, and
can help give you and your baby the best gift of all - a loving, nurturing, happy family.
Healthy Families is a completely voluntary program and is home-based to make it convenient for you and your family.
Your Family Support Worker can stay with you until your baby is 5 years old and help you through every big change
along the way!
To enroll in Healthy Families, or for more information, call (815) 740-8987.
Teen Panel
Teen Panel is a peer education program provided by teen parents to other adolescents in the community.
Teen parents enrolled in Healthy Families are selected to work together to share their stories and experience being
a teen parent. Presentations are made in local schools and other community groups to raise awareness of the choices
and consequences involved with teen pregnancy. Students' questions are answered by the panelists with the help and
support of the Teen Panel coordinator.
Students who have heard the Teen Panel speak say they learned a lot from the presentation and appreciated the
panelists sharing their stories with them. Peer education is an effective method of communication, especially about
difficult topics such as preventing teenage pregnancy.
To sign-up for Teen Panel, or for more information, call (815) 740-8977.
Focus Groups
Focus groups are open to all parenting teenagers in Will County. We meet monthly to discuss topics relevant to being a teen parent such as finding quality daycare, postpartum depression, SIDS awareness, finishing high school or getting a GED, healthy relationships, early reading to children, and much more.
Oftentimes peers are the best teachers. Focus groups give teen parents the opportunity to share their stories and learn from one another as well as to hear about other available community resources. Our teens are encouraged to bring their children with them and we frequently have mom and baby time reading with a librarian or other activities for the young children.
To find out when the next Focus group is, or for more information, call (815) 740-8977.
Contact Information
Healthy Families of Will County is located at the Will County Health Department.
For more information or to find out how you can help, contact:
Jill Gruenwald
Program Coordinator
(815) 740-8987
E-mail: jgruenwald@willcountyhealth.org
Fax: (815) 727-8677
Links