Polk County Public Schools Polk County, Florida

What is the Florida First Start Program?

The Florida First Start Program is a home-school partnership designed to give children at risk of future school failure the best possible start in life and to support parents in their role as their children’s first teachers. Emphasis is on enabling families to enhance their children’s intellectual, physical, language, and social development by involving parents in their children’s education during the critical first three years of life. Through early parent education and support services, the program lays the foundation for later learning and future school success, while fostering effective parent/school relationships.

Supports parents in their role as their child’s first teacher
Enables parents to enhance their child’s intellectual, physical, language and social development
Provides home visit, parent-group meetings and parent-child play groups
Encourages parents of preschool children to participate in the schools through involvement in the parent resource centers
Facilitates access to needed community resources
Empowers parents as advocates for their children
Builds effective partnerships between schools and families
Creates a foundation for later learning and future school success

Who is Eligible?

Children from birth to three years of age who have a disability or at risk of future school failure and their families.
Families who reside in the neighborhood served by the Florida First Start Parent Resource Centers.
Eligible children may be served up to four years of age if not enrolled in a full-time preschool program at the age of three.

Services Provided by Florida First Start

Home Visits

Trained parent educators visit each family’s home at least monthly, providing information on stages of intellectual, physical, language, and social development. Hands-on activities and individualized lesson plans to stimulate development are shared with parents. Information and guidance are offered on nutrition, effective discipline, home safety, constructive play, and other topics. Developmentally appropriate materials are selected to use during each visit and as an opening source of information to encourage parent/child interaction between visits.

Developmental Assessment and Health Screenings

Developmental assessments are conducted at six-month intervals to evaluate overall progress within the six areas: intellectual, fine motor, gross motor, expressive language, social/ emotional, and self-help skills. Children identified as having possible developmental difficulties are referred to school-based programs and/or community agencies for further evaluation. Health screenings are conducted annually. Children requiring further follow-up and/or treatment are referred to appropriate resources as needed.

Parent Group Meetings

Group meetings are designed to complement monthly home visits by providing parents the opportunity to share common concerns and experiences. A variety of topics on child development and parenting are presented. Children participate in opportunities for socialization and structured play activities during the meetings.

Parent Resource Center

Parents and their children may visit the resource center to use toys, manipulatives, educational materials, children’s books, and to interact with other Florida First Start families. The center’s lending library loans toys and educational materials, in addition to books on parenting and child development, free of charge. Parents may also take advantage of weekly organized parent-child play groups.

Support Services

Center-based staff provide supportive services to participating families in need of special assistance. Information and guidance are available to parents to facilitate access to and utilization of needed community resources.

For Information Contact:

Frostproof Elementary School
Teresa Norris
635-8569

Griffin Elementary School
Teresa Feagle
853-6027

Snively Elementary School
Eugenia Barton
291-5316

The Early Learning Coalition of Polk County

Polk County Public Schools, Parents

Florida First Start