CU EARLY | Birth to 3 Home Visiting Program
The mission of CU Early is to positively impact child development and to nurture healthy parent-child relationships during the critical early years that occur between birth and age three.
CU Early, a Prevention Initiative program, is a long standing collaboration of Urbana School District #116 and Champaign Unit 4 Schools. Urbana School District #116 has served as the administrative agent for the CU Early program since its inception as a Parental Training Grant in 1990. CU Early expanded in 1999 and became a Prevention Initiative program funded through the State of Illinois.
Who We Are
CU Early serves children from birth to age 3 and their families in Urbana and Champaign. We also provide services to expecting moms and dads. Our services for families include home visits, developmental screenings, early childhood information and activities, teen parent support groups, assisted resource and referrals to community agencies, and parental information and support. All CU Early services are free to families.
The Program
CU Early follows the BabyTalk philosophy and curriculum. Our goal is to “come along side” families in their journey of parenting. Our dedicated and skilled parent educators provide child development resources, support and guidance to families through home visiting services. Our goal is to meet with families at least twice a month, and more if needed. For enrolled families, we also provide monthly play groups, as well as work with teen parents providing them with weekly support groups. We work with parents on providing individualized activities that support their child’s ongoing development.
If you are interested in learning more about CU Early, please call 217-384-3616 or email Kelly Russell at krussell@usd116.org
CU Resources
Here is a list of a few community resources in the Urbana-Champaign area that may be helpful to you and your family.
- Urbana Early Childhood School – Preschool for children ages 3-5
- Champaign Prek – Preschool in Champaign with “blended” classes
- Champaign County Head Start – Early Head Start serves infants, toddlers, and expectant parents, while Head Start serves children ages 3-5
- Empty Tomb – Christian nonprofit organization that provides financial strategies and information about church giving patterns on a national level
- Champaign Urbana Public Health District (WIC) – WIC provides services for pregnant and post-partum women, infants and children up to age 5
- Child Care Resource Service – work to support the well-being of children and families by promoting the availability of quality child care services in the area
- Crisis Nursery – provides a safe place for young children and their parents in times of crisis
Community Resource Book – book full of community resources that is provided by CU Early upon request - Pregnancy Resource Center – free services offered in a caring and confidential setting by staff who specialize in pregnancy and sexual health issues
Urbana Early Childhood School
2202 E. Washington St.
Urbana, IL 61802
(217) 384-3616