Infant and Toddler Services

Prevention and Early Intervention Services

Hamilton Center provides Infant and Toddler Services programs, which are prevention and early intervention programs especially designed for young children from birth to three years of age and their families. These programs are preventative in nature.  Intervening early reduces the risks of children acquiring more serious problems as they grow into adulthood. Although services may vary slightly by county, all programs have an emphasis on home-based services and family integration. These services include: First Steps, Healthy Families and Early Head Start.

Early childhood programs at Hamilton Center, Inc.

Infant and Toddler Services' programs are early childhood programs for families with children up to three years of age. Their focus is to provide excellent supportive, educational and therapeutic services to enhance the lives of infants, young children, and their families.  These programs are preventative in nature.

Admission criteria is different for each program, but all services are free of charge to families. Infant and Toddler Services' programs are operated by Hamilton Center, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.

Infant and Toddler Services consists of three programs. All three programs are offered in Vigo County; the Healthy Families program is also offered in Greene County; Vermillion County; and Sullivan County.  First Steps is offered in Clay County, Daviess County, Greene County, Knox County, Martin County, Owen County, Parke County, Putnam County, Sullivan County and Vermillion County.

First Steps Of West Central Indiana

This federally funded early intervention program provides developmental and supportive services to infants and toddlers, birth to three years of age with diagnosed disabilities that may cause developmental delay and children who have developmental delays and their families. Early Intervention services are designed to meet the individual developmental needs of the child, and the needs of the family related to enhancing the child's development.

First Steps of West Central Indiana provides intake services, ongoing service coordination, record management and program administration to First Steps children and families in Clay, Daviess, Greene, Knox, Martin, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo Counties. Services are provided to infants and toddlers who meet Indiana's eligibility criteria and are on a sliding fee scale, with service coordination provided at no cost to families and evaluation / assessment with no fee involved. For more information, call 231-8337 or toll free, 1-877-860-0413.

Healthy Families Greene, Sullivan, Vermillion & Vigo Counties

This intensive home visiting program is designed to enhance early childhood outcomes and prevent child abuse and neglect. Enrollment is offered to expectant families and families with newborns who have been identified as having high stress in their lives. Services focus on strengthening families through parent education, support and advocacy. Entry into this program must be completed prenatally or before the child is two months of age.

Early Head Start Vigo County

This program is designed to provide early support to families of infants and toddlers, support which will enhance the child's development through healthy beginnings and the continuity of responsive and caring relationships. Families seeking enrollment must meet federal poverty guidelines and may be enrolled when the mother is pregnant or the child is between birth and three years of age. Early Head Start offers a variety of activities for children and parents in both the home and community.

Early Head Start Vigo County, Indiana Annual Report July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011 (.pdf)

Infant and Toddler Services Philosophy Statements

We believe the children and families we serve are entitled to:

Infant and Toddler Services is funded by Healthy Families Indiana, First Steps, Office of Head Star, United Way of the Wabash Valley, and Hamilton Center, Inc.