The Irvington Family Development Center
The goal of the IFDC is to increase public awareness among Irvington, New Jersey, families of life style behaviors that contribute to positive family growth and development.
The IFDC advances caregiver skills and promotes healthy family development in a welcoming environment. The IFDCs "one-stop shopping" concept has helped to reduce barriers to accessing care for the target population. Prenatal and health services, including developmental assessments, health screenings, health education, and short-term counseling, are linked with families needs for literacy training and family life/parental education. Educational services for day care workers and family day care providers, including Child Development Associate credentialing, enhance the skills of area providers caring for young children in the community.
Healthy Mothers/Health Babies (HMHB) of Essex, as an affiliate of the Northern NJ Maternal/Child Consortium, oversees the Center and the meeting of the goals and objectives.
Programs operated out of the Irvington Family Development Center (IFDC)
Preconceptual Health
Pregnancy Tests
The IFDC makes available pregnancy testing. A vital part of the Centers preconceptual health services, pregnancy tests are conducted on a daily basis and help to ensure entry into prenatal care, and eventual positive early infant/child development.
Preconceptual Education
The IFDC offers preconceptual education to foster positive pregnancy outcomes. These services are offered to women who are in their early stages of pregnancy or who received a negative result on their pregnancy test.
Enrollment program into NJKidCare Program
Outreach workers will locate and educate families with eligible children and to assist the families to enroll in NJKidCare, a comprehensive and affordable health coverage program for children in New Jersey.
Teen Pregnancy Workshops
Collaborating with the Irvington High School, the IFDC program works to reduce teen pregnancy by developing an active education and peer support program for young women.
The Center provides a neutral environment for pregnant adolescents to learn about the responsibilities of becoming a parent and the importance of prenatal care.
Parenting Workshops
The IFDC in conjunction with Programs for Parents provide parental education. Parenting workshops are conducted at day care centers. Workshops address a variety of topics, including budgeting/financial management, stress and anger management, appropriate disciplinary techniques, home safety, family communications, and how to locate quality child care.
Parent/child Interaction Groups
IFDC staff work with participating families conducting child developmental and health screenings. The groups are designed to help parents or guardians support the cognitive and behavioral development of their young children, as well how to interact with their children special needs.
Prenatal and Health Services
Infant /Child Health and Developmental Screening
- Provides developmental, vision, hearing and dental screenings to children enrolled in Family Daycare Homes.
- Funded by United Way of Essex and West Hudson.
Family Literacy
The Family Literacy program conducts workshops and programs on-site at the IFDC. These workshops work with parents to help increase their knowledge of how to support their childs education. Included in the program is a provision for child-friendly reading materials and magazine subscriptions. The IFDC also has an on-site lending library to supplement the family literacy program and summer reading program.
Quality Child Care (professional development)
The IFDC in conjunction with Programs for Parents provide a course offering that leads to Child Development Associate (CDA) credentialing for Irvington day care center workers. A non-college credit course the course runs 120 annual instructional hours. Day care workers are also given information regarding obtaining a GED, and when possible referrals are made to community colleges offering CDA credentialing for college credit.
WHO TO CONTACT
IFDC
50 Union Avenue, Suite 403
Irvington, NJ 07111
Contact: Patricia Da Silva
(973) 372-4353
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