Great Start Georgia of DeKalb County

No one knows your family better than YOU! You are your child’s primary source of support and care while he or she grows and learns for the first five years of life. Your baby’s development begins during pregnancy and continues through the early years of life.

At its heart, Great Start Georgia creates a community culture of caring, encouragement and support for all families before and after the birth of a child. It is first and foremost a vision for how communities provide a welcome to every child, make available natural supports for all expectant families, children birth to age five, provide basic parenting information and resources, and link families with more intensive services when needed.

Act now and invest in your family’s future... the early years last a lifetime.

Participation is free and voluntary.

 

FIRST STEPS

Great Start Georgia of DeKalb County’s First Steps Parent Resource Directory provides expectant mothers and families with children, newborn to age five, with local referrals to maternal and child focused resources and relevant age-appropriate information in the following categories: 

• Maternal Health
• Newborn/Child Health
• Home and Child Safety
• Community and Family Safety
• School Readiness
• Family Economic Self-sufficiency

Please complete this request form if you would like to receive a First Steps Parent Resource Directory and give your child a GREAT START!

If you are a maternal or child-focused service provider, and would like to be included in our directory, please email us.

 

HOME VISITING

Extensive research has shown the effectiveness of home visits in improving outcomes for maternal and child health, home and child safety, school readiness, family safety, and family economic self-sufficiency.

Great Start Georgia of DeKalb County offers expectant mothers and families with children, newborn to age five, the following home visiting programs to those who qualify* and want to offer their children a GREAT START...

• Early Head Start - Home Based Option (EHS-HBO)
• Parents as Teachers (PAT)

Our home visiting programs are conducted in partnership with:

• Refugee Family Services
• Scottdale Child Development and Family Resource Center
• Partnership for Community Action

Participation is free, voluntary, and confidential.  If you are interested in participating in a home visiting program or would like more information, please complete our questionnaire. A representative from Great Start Georgia of DeKalb County will contact you to discuss any qualified programs and services.

* Income and zip code qualifications must be met to participate in the Great Start Georgia of DeKalb County Home Visiting program.

 

REFERRALS

If you would like to refer an expectant mother or family with children, newborn to age five, to Great Start Georgia of DeKalb County to receive a “First Steps: Parent Resource Directory,” or to the home visiting program please complete our referral form. 
 
A Great Start Georgia of DeKalb County representative will follow-up with the family to see what programs they may qualify for and provide referrals.

This program is offered in partnership with DeKalb County Government CEO, Lee May, with support from the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners through the Human Services Department, A Division of DeKalb County Government.

 

CONTACT US

Please contact us if you have questions about Great Start Georgia of DeKalb County, would like to receive a “First Steps: Parent Resource Guide”, want to know if you qualify for the home visiting program, or would like us to speak at your next meeting.  This service is free and confidential.

Great Start Georgia of DeKalb County
The Human and Community Development Department
W.T. White Building
39 Rogers Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30317

Kimberly Cochran
First Steps, Community Screener

Kate Teague
Data Coordinator, ECSOC Specialist

Laura Lucas
SOC Administrator

 

Or call our toll-free number for the Great Start Georgia Information & Referral Center at
(855) 707-8277 or visit www.GreatStartGeorgia.org.

 

 

 

This program is offered in partnership with DeKalb County Government CEO, Burrell Ellis, with support from the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners through the Human Services Department, A Division of DeKalb County Government.

 

 

This project was supported in part by the Governor's Office for Children and Families through U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Affordable Care Act, Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program (CFDA 93.505). Points of view or opinions stated in this document are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the Governor's Office for Children and Families or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Affordable Care Act, Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program (CFDA 93.505)