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Education

Our programs promote academic achievement and social and emotional development among children, youth and families to foster success in life. Helping parents, especially younger parents, prepare for the challenges of parenting ensures that children are cared for, nurtured and experience a future of promise and opportunity.

Programs Include

Community Schools

Community Schools operate during non-school hours and expand positive choices and opportunities for youth while achieving academic success. Tutoring, homework help, recreation, life skills, cultural opportunities, and case management are included.

Early Childhood Collaboration

Brings together school districts, community agencies, early childhood providers and supporters to improve school readiness for children in under-resourced areas of Wheaton, Warrenville and Addison. Funded under The DuPage Foundation Bright and Early Initiative.

Early Learning Home Visiting Programs

Provides expectant and new parents with education and support they need at the time of their child’s birth and during the most crucial first five years of life. Sessions in the home focus on providing young children experiences that foster healthy growth and development and positive parent-child interactions. Families also meet for activities, to socialize and attend workshops; mental health consultant and family counseling services are available as well.

Empowering Families Initiative

Provides expectant and new parents with education and support they need at the time of their child’s birth and during the most crucial first three years of life. Sessions in the home focus on providing young children experiences that foster healthy growth and development and positive parent-child interactions. Families also meet for activities, to socialize and attend workshops.

Head Start and Early Head Start

Early Head Start serves pregnant women, infants and toddlers from birth to three years of age and their families. Working to ensure school readiness for our youngest residents, and for empowering families to do the best for their children’s future.

Parent Empowerment Project

Provides information, linkage and support services to parents with children ages 3-18 who attend early childhood programs, elementary and middle schools. School-based staff engage diverse families to encourage their participation in their children’s social-emotional, academic and physical development.

Parenting Fundamentals

Parenting Fundamentals gives parents tools to help their children live fulfilling, productive lives. This evidence-based course includes comprehensive support, empowering parents to prevent child abuse, improve school performance, and strengthen their families.

Pre-School Expansion

Provides full-day preschool for 4-year-olds and ensures school readiness for the youngest residents of Community Unit School District 200.

Project STRIVE

Project STRIVE is a collaboration between Metropolitan Family Services, DCFS and Chicago Public Schools that helps stabilize students who are wards of the state. The program reduces truancy, suspensions and expulsions; improves academic performance; addresses emotional and behavior problems; and increases parental and caseworker involvement.

School-Based Services

Provides classroom workshops for students, teachers and parents to enhance skills such as conflict resolution, violence prevention and communication. School-Based services may include individual and group counseling.

Substance Abuse Prevention Program

Helps young people develop positive commitments to their families, schools, peers and communities to encourage healthy, drug-free lives. The goal is to increase prevention-related drug knowledge and resistance skills.

The Children's Center (Midway)

Provides full-day care and learning for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years in the Chicago Lawn and Greater Englewood communities. Activities engage thinking skills with play and lay the foundations for self-esteem and social skills. Parents participate in workshops, classes and family events to enhance their supportive and nurturing abilities; mental health consultant and family counseling services are available as well.

The Children's Center (North)

Provides Head Start and child care for children ages 2-5 in the Belmont Cragin, Portage Park and Hermosa communities. Activities engage thinking skills with play and lay the foundations for self-esteem and social skills. Parents participate in workshops, classes and family events to enhance their supportive and nurturing abilities.

Upward Bound

Upward Bound provides educational and supportive services to eligible first-generation, college-bound students to help them successfully complete high school and enter college. This partnership involves the U.S. Department of Education, Metropolitan Family Services Calumet, Corliss High School and Harlan High School.

WEGO Together for Kids

WEGO Together for Kids is a collaboration mobilizing West Chicago schools and community to address the health, safety and well-being of students and families. Our newest partner, United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, invests through its Live United Neighborhood Network.

Words to Grow On Chicago

A vocabulary building initiative in collaboration with Chicago Public Library, Metropolitan Family Services (serving Englewood) and El Valor (serving Pilsen and Little Village). The goal is to help families with children ages 5 and under create positive routines that support early language development. Funding is provided through PNC’s Grow Up Great Program. Programming is provided in both English and Spanish.

Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Program

For youth ages 6-18 in Altgeld Gardens and Dearborn Homes. This is an evidenced-based group that promotes self-awareness, self-management, communication, decision-making and resisting peer pressure to use drugs.