Healthy Families Illinois (HFI) is a program nationally affiliated with Healthy Families America.  It is a voluntary home visitor program for first time parents to help their children get off to a healthy start.  HFI promotes positive parenting, child health, growth and development.  Only first time mothers, less than 30 years of age, not clients of DCFS, and meet the screening criteria will be asked to participate.  The clients will have a HFI support worker and a Family Case Manager to work with them.    

HFI support workers spend time with pregnant women or new parents talking about their hopes and concerns surrounding parenthood.  The goal of HFI is to empower parents to create an environment for their children to flourish, via a system of home visiting, curricula, creative outreach and support.  HFI supports the parent in family functioning and promotes parent-child intervention, child growth and development.  HFI support workers will work with the Family Case Manager to provide a comprehensive array of services and avoid duplication.  The clients may stay with the program until their child is 5 years old.