Dunebrook is pleased to announce that it has contracted with Geminus Corporation, of Merrillville, to provide Early Head Start programming in LaPorte and Porter Counties beginning in March, 2010.

The mission of Early Head Start (EHS) is to: promote healthy prenatal outcomes for pregnant women, enhance the development of very young children, and promote healthy family functioning. EHS will serve low-income infants and toddlers to age 3, and pregnant women, and their families. EHS is a home-based program that includes weekly visits with a Home Visitor, routine child development screenings and monthly socialization activities that provide educational opportunities for parents.

EHS will utilize the curriculum of Parents as Teachers, a nationally-recognized program that emphasizes the role of parents as their child’s first and best teacher. Parents as Teachers uses the most current research in neuroscience and child development to bring practices into the home that encourage and promote healthy child development, parent development and family support. Parents as Teachers complements EHS’ efforts to build a foundation for children’s success in school and life.

Brandi Lewis, Director of Dunebrook’s Home Visitation Programs and Early Head Start comments, “We are so pleased to be working with Geminus in this opportunity to help children in Northwest Indiana maximize their learning potential and to take advantage of the early childhood years that are so vital in capturing their teachable moments. It is an investment in our future.”

The EHS Grant was created through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

Geminus Corporation is a management group providing comprehensive support services, human resources, personnel, marketing, communications, purchasing, accounting, finance, client billing, service development, and mangement information systems, for behavioral health care providers and human service organizations.  Geminus Corporation has been providing Head Start services throughout Northwest Indiana for over twelve (12) years.

Dunebrook, located in Michigan City, is a family resource center which coordinates and provides home visitation, forensic interviewing, parenting classes and Body Safety presentations throughout La Porte County and the surrounding region.  The mission of Dunebrook is to advocate for children and provide positive family support and education. 

For more information about enrolling in Early Head Start or other programs at Dunebrook, call 800/897-0007.