Washington County Public Health

The Family Connection

Helping children of Washington and Henry counties learn, grow, and develop to realize their full potential!

The Family Connection

The Family Connection is an early childhood parent education and family support program designed to serve families from the time they learn they are expecting until their child turns age 4.

This fun and educational program is available to all families in Washington and Henry counties and is free of charge!

How the Family Connection Works

When you enroll in The Family Connection, you will be paired with a trained Parent Educator who will visit with you in your home at times that are convenient for you. Your Parent Educator will listen to your ideas and questions and work with you to decide on a plan that will best serve your needs as a parent. Your Parent Educator will observe your child with you to help identify strengths and interests that will assist in determining the focus of your visits. Visits always include a time to share information and review changes or questions about your child’s development, parent-child activities and ideas for book sharing that parents can use both during and between visits to promote healthy attachment and age-appropriate development.

The Vision

All children realize thier full potential.

The vision of The Family Connection is that all children in Washington and Henry counties will learn, grow, and develop to realize their full potential. Research has proven that children’s brains grow and develop more during the first years than at any other time in a person’s life. In order to make our vision a reality, the mission of The Family Connection is to provide the information, support and encouragement parents need to help their children develop optimally during the crucial early years of life.

Looking to enroll?

The Family Connection program is now managed by the Henry County Extension and Outreach office, serving both Washington and Henry counties. If you, or someone you know, would like to enroll or learn more about The Family Connection, give us a call or email us at amclaugh@iastate.edu.